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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18153-8.txt b/18153-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c45d52 --- /dev/null +++ b/18153-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7070 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Oscar, by Walter Aimwell + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Oscar + The Boy Who Had His Own Way + + +Author: Walter Aimwell + + + +Release Date: April 11, 2006 [eBook #18153] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OSCAR*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 18153-h.htm or 18153-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/5/18153/18153-h/18153-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/5/18153/18153-h.zip) + + + + + +The Aimwell Stories + +OSCAR: + +Or The Boy Who Had His Own Way. + +by + +WALTER AIMWELL, + +Author of "Clinton," "Boy's Own Guide," Etc. + +With Illustrations. + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: Winter Scene on Boston Common.] + +[Title-Page: Vignette.] + + + + +Boston: +Gould and Lincoln, +69 Washington Street. +New York: Sheldon and Company. +Cincinnati: Geo. S. Blanchard. +1861. +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by +Gould and Lincoln, +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court, +of the District of Massachusetts + + + + +PREFACE. + +In the story of OSCAR is portrayed the career of a bright but somewhat +headstrong boy, who was over-indulged by his parents, and who usually +managed to "have his own way," by hook or by crook. The book is designed +to exhibit some of the bad consequences of acquiring a wayward and +lawless spirit, and of falling into indolent, untruthful, and disobedient +habits. These are its main lessons, intermingled with which are a +variety of others, of scarcely less importance to the young. + +_Winchester, Mass._ + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + +"PRECEPTS MAY LEAD BUT EXAMPLES DRAW." + + +"THE AIMWELL STORIES" are designed to portray some of the leading phases +of juvenile character, and to point out their tendencies to future good +and evil. This they undertake to do by describing the quiet, natural +scenes and incidents of everyday life, in city and country, at home and +abroad, at school and upon the play-ground, rather than by resorting to +romantic adventures and startling effects. While their main object is to +persuade the young to lay well the foundations of their characters, to +win them to the ways of virtue, and to incite them to good deeds and +noble aims, the attempt is also made to mingle amusing, curious, and +useful information with the moral lessons conveyed. It is hoped that the +volumes will thus be made attractive and agreeable, as well as +instructive, to the youthful reader. + +Each volume of the "Aimwell Stories" will be complete and independent of +itself, although a connecting thread will run through the whole series. +The order of the volumes, so far as completed, is as follows:-- + + I. OSCAR; OR, THE BOY WHO HAD HIS OWN WAY. + II. CLINTON; OR, BOY-LIFE IN THE COUNTRY. + III. ELLA; OR, TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF. + IV. WHISTLER; OR, THE MANLY BOY. + V. MARCUS; OR, THE BOY-TAMER. + VI. JESSIE; OR, TRYING TO BE SOMEBODY. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A KITCHEN SCENE. + +Bridget and her little realm--A troop of rude intruders--An imperious +demand--A flat refusal--Prying investigations--Biddy's displeasure +aroused--Why Oscar could not find the pie--Another squabble, and its +consequences--Studying under difficulties--Shooting peas--Ralph and +George provoked--A piece of Bridget's mind--Mrs. Preston--George's +complaint--Oscar rebuked--A tell-tale--Oscar's brothers and sisters--His +father and mother. + + +CHAPTER II. + +OSCAR IN SCHOOL. + +Oscar's school--The divisions and classes--Lively and pleasant +sights--Playing schoolmaster--Carrying the joke too far to be +agreeable--Oscar's indolence in school--Gazing at the blackboard--A +release from study, and an unexpected privilege--Whiling away an +hour--Doing nothing harder work than studying--A half-learned lesson--A +habit of Oscar's--A ridiculous blunder--Absurd mistakes of the British +government about the great lakes--Oscar less pardonable than +they--Another blunder--Difference between guessing and knowing--Oscar +detained after school--His recitation--Good advice--Remembering the +blackboard--Willie Davenport--A pounding promised. + + +CHAPTER III. + +PAYING OFF A GRUDGE. + +Whistler--Why Ralph liked him--Why Oscar disliked him--A caution--A +sudden attack--An unexpected rescue--The stranger's advice--A brave +and manly answer--Whistler refuses to expose Oscar's name--The +boys separate--George's report of the scene, and Ralph's +explanation--Oscar's return--His sister's rebuke--His mother's +inquiries--Misrepresentations--Willie exonerated--Forgiving +enemies--An unpleasant promise called to mind--Mr. Preston's action +in the matter--Oscar refuses to punish himself--The chamber--A +surprise--Falsehood--Exposure--The account settled--Silence--Late +rising and a cold breakfast--What Mrs. Preston said--Its effect upon +Oscar--Concealed emotion--Mistaken notions of manliness--Good impressions +made--George's narrow escape. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE HOTEL. + +Alfred Walton--His home--Hotel acquaintances--Coarse stories and +jokes--Andy--His peculiarities--Tobacco--A spelling lesson--The +disappointment--Anger--Bright and her family--Fun and mischief--The owner +of the pups--A promise--A ride to the depôt--A walk about the +building--Examining wheels--The tracks--An arrival--A swarm of +passengers--Two young travellers taken in tow--Their story--Arrival at +the hotel--A walk--Purchase of deadly weapons--A heavy bill--Gifts to +Alfred and Oscar--A brave speech for a little fellow--Going home. + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE YOUNG TRAVELLERS + +The Sabbath--Uneasiness--Monday morning--A pressing invitation to play +truant--Hesitation--The decision--Oscar's misgivings--Manners of the two +travellers--A small theft--Flight--A narrow escape--A costly cake of +sugar--The bridge to Charlestown--The monument--The navy yard--Objects of +interest--Incidents of Joseph's life--A slight test of his +courage--Oscar's plans--Going to dinner--A grand "take in"--Alfred's +disclosures--Real character of the young travellers--Their tough +stories--A mutual difficulty--Confessing what cannot be concealed--Good +advice and mild reproof--The teacher's leniency explained. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WORK. + +A command--Passing it along--Reluctant obedience--A poor excuse--A bad +habit--Employment for vacation--Oscar's opposition to the plan--Frank +the errand-boy--Thanksgiving week--A busy time--Oscar's experience as +store-boy--Learning to sweep--Doing work well--A tempting invitation--Its +acceptance--A ride--Driving horses--The errand--The return--Oscar +at the store--Sent off "with a flea in his ear"--The matter +brought up again--Oscar's excuse unsatisfactory--Ralph's services +rewarded--Difference between the two boys. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THANKSGIVING DAY. + +Grandmother's arrival--Surprises--Presents--Oscar at a +shooting-match--Bad company--Cruel sport--Home again--Prevarication--A +remonstrance--Impudence, and a silent rebuke--The dinner--A stormy +afternoon--A disappointment--Evening in the parlor--A call for +stories--How the Indians punished bad boys--What Oscar thought of it--An +Indian story--The hostile party--The alarm--The stratagem--The onset--The +retreat--The victory--Laplot River--Widow Storey's retreat--Misfortunes +of her husband--Her enterprise and industry--Fleeing from the +British--The subterranean abode--Precautions to prevent discovery--Uncle +James--The fellow who was caught in his own trap--Old Zigzag--His +oddities--His tragic end--How the town of Barre, Vt., got its name--A +well-spent evening. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +GRANDMOTHER LEE. + +One of her habits--Ella's complaint--Alice's reproof--Ella's rude reply +to her grandmother--A mild rebuke--A sterner reproof--Shame and +repentance--Popping corn--George's selfishness--A fruitless search for +the corn-bag--Bad Temper--An ineffectual reproof--George's obstinacy--How +he became selfish--Difficulty of breaking up a bad habit--What he lost by +his selfishness--Oscar's dog--He is named "Tiger"--His portrait--His +roguishness--Oscar's trick upon his grandmother--Unfortunate +ending--Tiger's destructiveness--A mystery, and its probable +solution--Oscar's falsehood--Tiger's banishment decreed, but not carried +out--Grandmother Lee's remonstrance with Oscar--Bridget's onset--Oscar's +excuse--Moral principle wanting--Mrs. Lee's departure. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WINTER SPORTS. + +Coasting--Oscar's sled--Borrowing and lending--A merry scene on the +Common--Various sleds and characters--A collision--Damage to Ralph and +the "Clipper"--Not accidental--The guilty parties called to account--No +satisfaction obtained--Ralph's trouble--Oscar's anger--His revenge--A +fight--His termination--Skating--Tiger on the ice--His plunge into an +air-hole--His alarm and escape--Going home--Unfounded fears +awakened--Tiger's shame--A talk about air-holes--What they are for, and +how they are made--Skaters should be cautious--A change in Tiger's +habits--A great snow-storm--Appearance of the streets--Fun for the +boys--A job for Oscar--He is wiser than his father--Nullification of a +command--The command repeated--Icy sidewalks--Laziness and its excuses--A +wise suggestion--Duty neglected--Oscar called to account--His +excuses--Unpleasant consequences of his negligence--The command repeated, +with a "snapper" at the end--The dreaded task completed. + + +CHAPTER X. + +APPEARANCES. + +A compulsory ride--Merited retribution--A sad plight for a proud +boy--Laughter and ridicule--Oscar's neatness and love of dress--The +patched jacket--Oscar's objections to it--Benny Wright, the boy of many +patches--His character--The jacket question peremptorily settled--A +significant shake of the head--A watch wanted--Why boys carry +watches--Punctuality--Oscar's tardiness at school--The real cause of +it--Thinking too much of outside appearances--Character of more +consequence than cloth--An offer--The conditions--A hard question--How to +accomplish an object--Oscar's waywardness--Boarding-school +discipline--The High School--An anticipated novelty. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE MORAL LESSON. + +Oscar's shrewdness--His reputation for integrity--A new +want--Perplexity--A chance for speculation--A dishonest +device--Its success--Secrecy--The fraud discovered--Oscar's +defence--Restitution refused--Indignation--The Monday morning +lesson in morals--Dishonesty--Rectifying mistakes--The principle +unfolded--Restoring lost articles--A case for Oscar to decide--His +reluctant decision--Taking advantage of another's ignorance--Duty of +restitution--Other forms of dishonesty--Better to be cheated than to +cheat--Effect of the lesson upon Oscar. + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SICKNESS. + +Wet feet--A command disobeyed--Dabbling in the water--Playing +on the ice--An unexpected adventure--Afloat on an ice-cake--A +consultation--Danger and alarm--Spectators--A call for help--A critical +situation--The rescue--Effects of the adventure--Feverish dreams--Strange +feelings--The doctor's visit--Lung fever--The Latin prescription--Oscar's +removal--He grows worse--Peevishness--Passing the crisis--Improved +behavior--Getting better--General rejoicings--Further improvement--Return +of a bad habit--Fretfulness and impatience--A dispute--First attempt to +sit up--Its failure--First day in an easy chair--The sweets of +convalescence--Danger of a relapse. + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +GETTING WELL. + +Hunger--An evil suggestion--First visit down stairs--Midnight +supper--Weakness and exhaustion--An ill turn--The doctor's visit--The +mystery explained--Contents of a sick boy's stomach--The doctor's abrupt +farewell--His recall--Promise of obedience--Punishment for +imprudence--Directions--Effects of the relapse--Slow recovery--The +menagerie procession--A wet morning--Disobedience--Exposure, and its +consequences--Reading--The borrowed book--The curious letter--Puzzles, +with illustrations--Guessing riddles--Oscar's treatment of Benjamin--His +present feelings towards him--Ella's copy of the letter--Oscar's growing +impatience--An arrival--Uncle John--The loggers--Cousins never seen--A +journey decided upon--Solution of riddles, conundrums, &c. + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE JOURNEY. + +Setting out--A long and wearisome ride--Portland--The hotel--Going +to bed--The queer little lamp--Lonesomeness--The evening +prayer--Morning--Breakfast--The railroad depôt--Oscar's partiality for +stage-coaches and good horses--Eighty miles by steam--Dinner--The +stage-coach--An outside seat--The team and the roads--Villages--Mail +bags--Forests and rivers--End of the stage ride--Jerry--An +Introduction--A ride in a wagon--Bashfulness--An invisible village--The +journey's end--Mrs. Preston--More shy cousins--Supper--Evening +employments--Attempting to "scrape acquaintance"--Mary tells Oscar his +name--More questions--The tables turned--Getting acquainted in bed. + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BROOKDALE. + +A dull morning--New acquaintances--Inquiries about Jerry's school-time--A +long vacation--Work--Playmates--Rain--A fine sunrise--The distant pond--A +call to breakfast--Preliminary operations--Jerry's uncombed head--Oscar's +neatness--Jerry sent from the table--Bad manners--Bathing in the pond--An +anticipated pleasure interdicted--The river--A walk--The pond--Map of +Brookdale--Going to ride--The Cross-Roads--Billy's speed discussed--The +variety store--All sorts of things--Oscar's purchase--Returning +home--Short evenings--A nap--A queer dream--Oscar's smartness at +dreaming--Making fun of a country store--Mary's question--Crying +babies--Teasing--Walking backwards--A trip and a fall--A real crying +baby--Mary comforted--Jerry cuffed--Mortification. + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +IN THE WOODS. + +Forgotten medicine and renewed health--An excursion +planned--A gun wanted, but denied--Setting out on a long +tramp--Swamps--Upland--Brooks--How Brookdale got its name--Cutting +canes--Birch and beech--How to crook the handle of a cane--The philosophy +of it explained--The cigars--Fine groves--Stopping to rest--The +forest described--Birds and guns--Other game--Jim Oakley's strange +animal--Moose--The man who met a bear--A race--Mysterious disappearance +of the bear--The probable cause of his visit--The boy who killed two +bears--Oscar's courage--Prospect Rock--A fine view--The rabbit--The +woodchuck's hole--Crossing a swamp--Mosquitoes--The pond--The +hermit's hut--Some account of "Old Staples"--Buried treasures--Making +a fire--Baking potatoes and toasting cheese--Drinking pond +water--Dinner--Hunting for the hermit's money--What they meant to do with +it--A bath proposed--Smoothing over the matter--Going Into water--Drying +their hair--Going home--Lost In the woods--Arrival home--One kind of +punishment for wrong-doing. + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +CLINTON. + +The missing cap--Splitting wood--Jerry and Emily--A quarrel begun--The +cap found--A drink of buttermilk--Oscar's opinion of it--Jerry's love for +it--Another delay--Feeding the fowls--A mysterious letter--The Shanghae +rooster's complaint--Curiosity excited--The suspected author--Clinton's +education--Keeping dark about the letter--Who Clinton was--Where +he lived--Killing caterpillars--How caterpillars breed--The young +turkeys--The brood of chickens--The hen-coop--Clinton's management of +the poultry--His profits--Success the result of effort, not of luck--The +"rooster's letter" not alluded to--The piggery--The barn--"The horse's +prayer"--A new-comer--Her name--A discovery--Relationship of Clinton to +Whistler--Mrs. Davenport--Oscar conceals his dislike of Whistler--The +shop--Specimens of Clinton's work--Going home. + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE LETTER. + +A forgotten duty called to mind--Letter writing--A mysterious +allusion--The private room--No backing out--Making a beginning--Getting +stuck--Idling away time--Prying into letters--A commotion among the +swallows--Teaching the young ones how to fly--A good lesson lost--Mary +and her book--Her talk about the pictures--A pretty picture--A wasted +hour--Making another attempt--His success--Effects of being in earnest--A +copy of Oscar's letter--Emily's inquisitiveness--A rebuke--The message +she wanted to send--The meadow lot--Mulching for trees--Going to the old +wood lot--Cutting birch twigs-Forgetting to be lazy--The load--A ride to +the Cross-Roads--Mailing the letter--Paying the postage in advance. + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE RECALL. + +Hankerings after a gun--A plan--Jim Oakley's gun--A dispute--An open +rupture--The broken gun--Going home mad--A call from Clinton--The +toiler--Summons home--Disappointment--Bad feeling between Oscar and +Jerry--How they slept--Remarks about their appearance at the breakfast +table--Borrowing trouble--Another visit proposed--Jerry's explosion of +anger--His imprudence--Confinement down cellar--An unhappy day--"Making +up" at night--A duty neglected--Inquiries about the gun--Starting for +home--A pleasant drive--The stage-coach--The cars--Luncheon--Half +an hour in Portland--The Boston train--A spark in the eye--Pain and +inflammation--Boston--Ralph's surprise--Welcome home--The eye-stone--The +intruder removed. + + +CHAPTER XX. + +DOWNWARD PROGRESS. + +Oscar's dread of going to school--Unsuccessful pleas--Oscar at +school--His indifference to his studies--A "talent for missing"--A +reproof--Kicking a cap--Whistler's generosity--Benny Wright--Oscar's +bad conduct--Regarded as incorrigible--The tobacco spittle--Oscar's +denial--Betrayed by his breath--A successful search--The teacher's +rebuke--The new copy--Its effect--A note for Oscar's father--What it led +to--Concealment of real feelings--Bridget's complaint--The puddle on the +kitchen floor--Oscar's story--Conflicting reports--A new flare-up--The +truth of the matter--Bridget's departure--Examination day--The +medals--The certificate for the High School--A refusal--Bitter fruits of +misconduct. + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +NED MIXER. + +Vacation--Associates--Edward Mixer--His character--Loitering around +railroad depôts--An excursion into the country--The railroad +bridge--Fruit--A fine garden--Getting over the fence--Looking for birds' +nests--Disappearance of Edward and Alfred--A chase--Escape of the +boys--Hailing each other--Edward's account of the adventure--A grand +speculation--Pluck--Secrecy--Curiosity not gratified--Arrival of Oscar's +uncle--The officer's interview with Mr. Preston--The real character and +history of Ned--Timely warning--Oscar's astonishment--What he knew +concerning Ned--A hint about forming new acquaintances--Oscar's +removal from city temptations decided on--A caution and +precaution--Departure--Ned's arrest and sentence--The "grand speculation" +never divulged. + + + + +Illustrations. + + +WINTER SCENE ON BOSTON COMMON . . . . . . FRONTISPIECE + +VIGNETTE . . . . . . . . . TITLE-PAGE + +PLAYING SCHOOLMASTER. + +THE ASSAULT. + +BRIGHT AND HER FAMILY. + +THANKSGIVING MARKET SCENE. + +TIGER'S COUNTENANCE. + +THE OVERTURN. + +AFLOAT ON THE ICE. + +A QUEER NAME. + +THE DOUBLE FACE. + +THE CAT-ERECT. + +MAP OF BROOKDALE. + +THE DINNER IN THE WOODS. + +MARY AND THE PICTURE-BOOK. + +THE STAGE-COACH. + +HUNTING FOR BIRDS' NESTS. + + + + +OSCAR. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A KITCHEN SCENE. + +Bridget, the Irish servant girl, had finished the house-work for the +day, and sat down to do a little mending with her needle. The fire in +the range, which for hours had sent forth such scorching blasts, was +now burning dim; for it was early in October, and the weather was mild +and pleasant. The floor was swept, and the various articles belonging +in the room were arranged in their proper places, for the night. The +mistress of the kitchen,--for Bridget claimed this as her rank, if not +her title,--was humming a queer medley of tunes known only to herself, +as her clumsy fingers were trying to coax the needle to perform some +dextrous feat that it did not seem inclined to do in her hands. What +she was thinking about, is none of our business; but whatever it was, +her revery was suddenly disturbed, and the good nature that beamed from +her face dispelled, by the noisy clattering of more than one pair of +little boots on the stairs. In a moment, the door opened with a jerk +and a push, and in bounded three boys, with as little display of +manners or propriety as so many savages might exhibit. The oldest +directed his steps to the closet, singing, as he peered round among the +eatables: + + "Eggs, cheese, butter, bread,-- + Stick, stock, stone-dead." + + +"Biddy," he continued, "I 'm hungry--give me something to eat, quick." + +Bridget paid no attention to this demand, but only twitched her needle +with a little more energy. + +"I say, Biddy," continued the boy, "what did you have for supper? +Come, give me some, I 'm half starved." + +"And why did n't ye come when the supper was ready, if ye wanted any?" +said Bridget. "If ye won't ate with the rest, it's not me that will +wait upon ye, Master Oscar." + +"Well," continued Oscar, "if you won't help me, I guess I can help +myself. Ralph, what did you have for supper?" + +The boy addressed named over several articles, among which were cake +and mince-pie, neither of which could Oscar find in the closet. + +"Where did you put the pie, Biddy?" he inquired. + +"It 's where ye won't find it," replied Bridget, "that's jist where it +is." + +"I bet I _will_ find it, come now," said Oscar, with a determined air; +and he commenced the search in earnest, prying into every covered dish, +opening every drawer and bucket, and overhauling and disarranging every +part of the closet. Bridget was just then in too irritable a mood to +bear this provoking invasion of her realm with patience. In an angry +tone, she ordered the intruder to leave the closet, but he took no +notice of the command. She repeated the order, making it more emphatic +by calling him a "plague" and a "torment," but he did not heed it. +Then she threatened to tell his parents of his misconduct, but this had +no effect. Oscar continued his search for some minutes, but without +success; and he finally concluded to make his supper of bread and +butter, since he could find nothing more tempting to his appetite. + +The fact was, Oscar was getting in the habit of being absent from his +meals, and calling for food at unseasonable hours, much to the +annoyance of Bridget. She had complained of this to his mother several +times, without effect; and now she thought she would try a little +expedient of her own. So, when she cleared away the supper-table that +evening, before Oscar came home, she hid away the cake and pies with +which the others had been served, and left only bread and butter in the +closet. She gained her end, but the boy, in rummaging for the hidden +articles, had made her half an hour's extra work, in putting things to +rights again. + +As Oscar stepped out of the closet, after his solitary supper, he moved +towards the youngest of the other boys, saying: + +"Here, George, open your mouth and shut your eyes, and I 'll give you +something to make you wise." + +George declined the gift, but Oscar insisted, and tried to force it +upon him. A struggle ensued, and both rolled upon the floor, the one +crying and screaming with anger, and the other laughing as though he +considered it good fun. George shut his teeth firmly together, but +Oscar succeeded in rubbing enough of the mysterious article upon his +lips to enable him to tell what it was. It proved to be a piece of +pepper, a plate of which Oscar had found in the closet. + +This little experiment, however, did not leave George in a very +pleasant frame of mind. It was some time before he got over his +blubbering and pouting. Oscar called him a "cry-baby," for making such +a fuss about a little bit of pepper, which epithet did not aid him much +in forgetting the injury he had received. + +After awhile, quiet and harmony were in a measure restored. Ralph and +George got their school-books, and began to look over the lessons they +were to recite in the morning; but Oscar not only remained idle, +himself, but seemed to try to interrupt them as much as possible, by +his remarks. By-and-bye, finding they did not take much notice of his +observations, he took from his jacket pocket a small tin tube, and +commenced blowing peas through it, aiming them at his brothers, at +Bridget, and at the lamp. Ralph, after two or three had taken effect +on his face, got up in a pet, and took his book up stairs to the +sitting-room. George scowled and scolded, as the annoying pellets flew +around his head, but he did not mean to be driven away by such small +shot. Bridget, too, soon lost her patience, as the peas rattled upon +the newly-swept floor. + +"Git away with yer pays, Oscar," said she; "don't ye be clutterin' up +the clane floor with 'em, that's a good b'y." + +"They aint 'pays,' they are _peas_," replied Oscar; "can't you say +peas, Biddy?" + +"I don't care what ye call 'em," said Bridget; "only kape the things in +yer pocket, and don't bother me with 'em." + +"Who 's bothering you?" said Oscar; "me 'pays' don't make any +dirt--they 're just as clean as your floor." + +"Ye 're a sassy b'y, that's jist what ye are." + +"Well, what are you going to do about it?" + +"Faith, if it was me that had the doin' of it, I bet I 'd larn ye +better manners, ye great, impudent good-for-nothin', if I had to bate +yer tin times a day." + +"You would n't, though, would you?" said Oscar; and he continued the +shower of peas until he had exhausted his stock, and then picked most +of them up again, to serve for some future occasion. He had hardly +finished this last operation, when his mother, who had been out, +returned home. As soon as she entered the kitchen, George began to +pour out his complaints to her. + +"Mother," he said, "Oscar 's been plaguing us like everything, all the +evening. He got me down on the floor, and rubbed a hot pepper on my +mouth, and tried to make me eat it. And he's been rummaging all round +the kitchen, trying to find some pie. And then he went to shooting +peas at us, and he got Bridget real mad, and Ralph had to clear out, to +study his lesson. I told him--" + +"There, there, George, that will do," replied his mother; "I am sick of +hearing these complaints. Oscar, why is it that I can't stir out of +the house, when you are at home, without your making trouble with +Bridget or the children? I do wish you would try to behave yourself +properly. You are getting the ill-will of everybody in the house, by +your bad conduct. I really believe your brothers and sisters will +begin to hate you, before long, if you keep on in this way. For your +own sake, if for nothing more, I should think you would try to do +better. If I were in your place, I would try to keep on good terms +with my brothers and sisters, if I quarrelled with everybody else." + +Oscar made no reply to this, and the subject was soon dropped. His +mother was too much accustomed to such complaints of his misconduct, to +think very seriously of them; and he was himself so used to such mild +rebukes as the foregoing, that they made little impression upon his +mind. The boys, who all slept in one chamber, soon retired for the +night; but Oscar took no further notice of the occurrences of the +evening, except to apply the nickname of "mammy's little tell-tale" to +George--a title of contempt by which he often addressed his little +brother. + +I am afraid that the title of "tell-tale" was not wholly undeserved by +George. True, he often had just cause of complaint; but he was too +ready to bring whining accusations against his brothers and sisters, +for every trifling thing. He complained so much that his mother could +not always tell when censure was deserved. It had become a habit with +him, and a dozen times a day he would go to her, with the complaint +that Oscar had been plaguing him, or Ella had got something that +belonged to him, or Ralph would not do this or that. + +George, who was the youngest of the children, was at this time seven +years old; Ralph was two years and half older, and Oscar, who was the +oldest son, was about half way between thirteen and fourteen. They had +two sisters. Alice, the oldest, was fifteen years of age, and Eleanor, +or Ella, as she was commonly called, was about eleven. + +The father of these boys and girls was a shop-keeper in Boston. His +business required so much of his attention, that he was seldom with his +family, except at meal-times and nights. Even in the evening he was +usually at the shop; but when it so happened that he could remain at +home after tea, it was his delight to settle himself comfortably down +in the big rocking chair, in the well-lighted sitting-room, and to muse +and doze, while Alice sang, and played upon the piano-forte. He had so +many other cares, that he did not like to be troubled with bad reports +of his children's conduct, This was so well understood by all the +family, that even George seldom ventured to go to him with a complaint. +The management of domestic affairs was thus left almost entirely with +Mrs. Preston, and she consulted her husband in regard to these matters +only when grave troubles arose. + +I have thus briefly introduced to my readers the family, one of whose +members is to form the principal subject of the following pages. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +OSCAR IN SCHOOL. + +The school which Oscar attended was held in a large and lofty brick +building, a short distance from the street on which he lived. His +brothers attended the same school, but his sisters did not, it being +only for boys. The pupils numbered four or five hundred--a good many +boys to be together in one building. But though belonging to one +school, and under the control of one head master, they did not often +meet together in one assembly. They were divided into eight or ten +branches, of about fifty scholars each, and each branch had its own +separate room and teacher. There were however, only four classes in +the whole school; and a this time Oscar was a member of the first, or +highest class. There was a large hall in the upper story of the +building, in which the entire school assembled on exhibition days, and +when they met for the practice of singing or declamation. + +There were lively and merry times in the vicinity of the school-house, +I can assure you, for half an hour before the opening of school, and +for about the same length of time after the exercises closed. Four +hundred boys cannot well be brought together, without making some stir. +Every morning and afternoon, as the pupils went to and from school, the +streets in the neighborhood would for a few minutes seem to swarm with +boys, of every imaginable size, shape, manners, dress, and appearance. +Usually, they went back and forth in little knots; and with their books +and slates under their arms, their bright, happy faces, their joyous +laugh, and their animated movements, they presented a most pleasing +sight,--"a sight for sore eyes," as a Scotchman might say. If anybody +disputes this, he must be a sour and crabbed fellow. + +Oscar, although not the most prompt and punctual of scholars, used +occasionally to go to school in season to have a little fun with his +mates, before the exercises commenced. One day, entering the +school-room a little before the time, he put on an old coat which his +teacher wore in-doors, stuck a quill behind his ear, and made a pair of +spectacles from some pasteboard, which he perched upon his nose. +Arranged, in this fantastical manner, he seated himself with great +dignity in the teacher's chair, and began to "play school-master," to +the amusement of several other boys. It so happened that the teacher +arrived earlier than usual that day, and he was not a little amused, as +he suddenly entered the room, and witnessed the farce that was going +on. Oscar jumped from his seat, but the master made him take it again, +and remain in it just as he caught him, with his great-coat, pasteboard +spectacles and quill, until all the scholars had assembled, and it was +time to commence the studies of the day. This afforded fine sport to +the other boys, but Oscar did not much relish the fun, and he never +attempted to amuse himself in that way again. + +[Illustration: Playing Schoolmaster] + +I am sorry that this harmless piece of roguery is not the most serious +charge that candor obliges me to bring against Oscar. But to tell the +truth, he was not noted either for his studious habits or his correct +deportment; and there was very little prospect that he would be +considered a candidate for the "Franklin medals," which were to be +distributed to the most deserving members of his class, when they +graduated, the ensuing July. And yet Oscar was naturally a bright and +intelligent boy. He was quick to learn, when he applied himself; but +he was indolent, and did not like to take the trouble of studying his +lessons. Whenever he could be made to take hold of a lesson in +earnest, he soon mastered it; but the consciousness of this power often +led him to put off his lessons to the last minute, and then perhaps +something would happen to prevent his preparing himself at all. + +A day or two after the "kitchen scene" described in the preceding +chapter, Oscar was sitting at his desk in the school-room, with an open +book before him, but with his eyes idly staring at a blackboard affixed +to one of the walls. The teacher watched him a moment, and then spoke +to him. + +"Oscar," he said, "what do you find so very fascinating about that +blackboard? You have been looking at it very intently for several +minutes--what do you see that interests you so!" + +Oscar hung his head, but made no reply. + +"Are you ready to recite your geography lesson?" continued the master. + +"No, sir." + +"Why do you not study it, then'" + +"I don't feel like studying," replied Oscar. + +"Very well," said the teacher, quite pleasantly; "if you don't feel +like it, you need n't study. You may come here." + +Oscar stepped out to the platform on which the teacher's desk was +placed. + +"There," continued the master, pointing to a blackboard facing the +school, "you may stand there and look at that board just as long as you +please. But you must not look at anything else, and I would advise you +not to let me catch your eyes turning either to the right or the left. +Now mind and keep your eyes on the board, and when you feel like +studying let me know." + +Oscar took the position pointed out to him, with his back towards the +boys, and with his face so near the blackboard, that he could see +nothing else without turning his head--an operation that would be sure +to attract the attention of the master. At first he thought it would +be good fun to stand there, and for awhile the novelty of the thing did +amuse him a little. When he began to grow weary, he contrived to +interest himself by tracing out the faint chalk-marks of long-forgotten +problems, that had not been entirely obliterated from the blackboard. +This afforded employment for his mind for a time; but by-and-bye he +began to grow tired and uneasy. His eyes longed to see something else, +and his legs were weary of standing so long in one position. He +wondered, too, whether the boys were looking at him, and whether they +smiled at his strange employment. At last, after doing penance about +an hour, his exhaustion got the better of his stubbornness, and on +informing the master that he thought ho could study now, he was +permitted to take his seat. + +After returning to his desk, Oscar had but little time to finish +learning his geography lesson, before the class was called out to +recite. As was too often the case, he was but half prepared. The +subject of the lesson was New York State. Several of the questions put +to Oscar were answered wrong, either wholly or in part. When asked +what great lakes bordered on New York, he replied: + +"Lake Erie and Lake Superior." + +When the question was given to another, and correctly answered, Oscar +exclaimed: + +"That's what I meant--Erie and Ontario; but I was n't thinking what I +said." + +This was somewhat of a habit with Oscar. When he "missed" a question, +he was very apt to say, after the next boy had answered it, "I knew, +only I could n't think," or, "I was just going to say so." + +Another question put to him was, whether the water of the great New +York lakes was fresh or salt. Oscar replied that it was salt. It is +but justice to add, how ever, that nothing was said in the lesson of +the day, on this point, although the question had occurred in a +previous lesson. Noticing that several of the boys laughed at Oscar's +blunder, the teacher remarked: + +"That was a very foolish answer, Oscar, but you are not the first nor +the wisest person that has made the same mistake. When the British +went to war with us, in 1812, it is said that all their war vessels +intended to navigate the lakes, were furnished with tanks and casks for +carrying a full supply of freshwater; and I have been told that an +apparatus is still in existence in one of the Canadian navy yards, +which the English government sent over, some years ago, for distilling +fresh water from Lake Erie. But an American school-boy of your age +ought to know better than this, if an English lord of the admiralty +does not. These great lakes are among the remarkable features of our +own country, and every American child should know something about them. +I should suppose," continued the teacher, "that a boy who could afford +to look steadily at nothing for an hour, might take a little pains to +inform himself about so common a matter as this, so as not to appear so +ridiculous, when a simple question is asked him." + +Before the lesson was concluded, Oscar made still another mistake. +There was an allusion in the lesson to the great fire of 1885, by which +an immense amount of property in New York city was destroyed. When the +teacher asked him how many buildings were said to have been consumed, +he replied: + +"Three hundred and fifty--five hundred and thirty--no, three hundred +and fifty." + +"Which number do you mean?" inquired the master. + +"I aint sure which it is," replied Oscar, after a moment's hesitation; +"it's one or the other, I don't know which." + +"You are about as definite," said the teacher, "as the Irish recruit, +who said his height was five feet ten or ten feet five, he was n't +certain which. But are you _sure_ that the number of buildings burnt +was either three hundred and fifty, or five hundred and thirty?" + +"Why--yes--I--believe--it was one or the other," replied Oscar, +hesitatingly. + +"You _believe_ it was, do you? Well, I believe you know just nothing +about the lesson. You may go to your seat, and study it until you can +answer every question; and after school I will hear you recite it, and +remember, you will not go home until you _can_ recite it." + +The class continued their recitation, and Oscar returned to his seat, +and commenced studying the lesson anew. It was already late in the +afternoon, and as he did not like the idea of stopping after school, he +gave pretty close attention to his book during the rest of the session. +About fifteen minutes after the school was dismissed, he told the +teacher he was prepared to recite, and he succeeded in getting through +the lesson with tolerable accuracy. When he had finished, the teacher +talked with him very plainly about his indolent habits in school, and +the consequences that would hereafter result from them. + +"I would advise you," he said, "to do one of two things,--either commit +your lessons perfectly, hereafter, or else give up study entirely, and +ask your father to take you from school and put you to some business. +You can learn as fast as any boy in school, if you will only give your +attention to it; but I despise this half-way system that you have +fallen into. It is only wasting time to half learn a thing, as you did +your geography lesson this afternoon. You studied it just enough to +get a few indistinct impressions, and what little you did learn you +were not sure of. It would be better for you to master but one single +question a day, and then _know_ that you know it, than to fill your +head with a thousand half-learned, indefinite, and uncertain ideas. I +have told you all this before, but you do not seem to pay any attention +to it. I am sorry that it is so, for you might easily stand at the +head of the school, if you would try." + +Oscar _had_ received such advice before, but, as his teacher intimated, +he had not profited much by it. If anything, he had grown more +indolent and negligent, within a few months. On going home that night, +Ralph accosted him with the inquiry: + +"What did you think of the blackboard, Oscar? Do you suppose you +should know it again, if you should happen to see it?" + +"What do you mean?" he inquired, feigning ignorance. + +"O, you 've forgotten it a'ready, have you?" continued Ralph. "You +don't remember seeing anything of a blackboard this afternoon, do you?" + +"But who told you about it?" inquired Oscar; for though both attended +the same school, their places were in different rooms. + +"O, I know what's going on," said Ralph; "you need n't try to be so +secret about it." + +"Well, I know who told you about it--'t was Bill Davenport, was n't +it?" inquired Oscar. + +Willie and Ralph were such great cronies, that Oscar's supposition was +a very natural one. Indeed, Ralph could not deny it without telling a +falsehood, and so he made no reply. Oscar, perceiving he had guessed +right, added, in a contemptuous tone: + +"The little, sneaking tell-tale--I 'll give him a good pounding for +that, the first time I catch him." + +"You 're too bad, Oscar," interposed his brother; "Willie did n't +suppose you cared anything about standing before the blackboard--he +only spoke of it because he thought it was something queer." + +Seeing Oscar was in so unamiable a mood, Ralph said nothing more about +the subject, at that time. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PAYING OFF A GRUDGE. + +The morning after the events just related, as Ralph was on his way to +school, he fell in with Willie Davenport, or "Whistler," as he was +often sportively called, by his playmates, in allusion to his fondness +for a species of music to which most boys are more or less addicted. +And I may as well say here, that he was a very good whistler, and came +honestly by the title by which he was distinguished among his fellows. +His quick ear caught all the new and popular melodies of the day, +before they became threadbare, which gave his whistling an air of +freshness and novelty that few could rival. It was to this +circumstance--the quality of his whistling, rather than the +quantity--that he was chiefly indebted for the name of Whistler. Nor +was he ashamed of his nickname, as he certainly had no need to be; for +it was not applied to him in derision, but playfully and good-naturedly. + +Whistler and Ralph were good friends. There was a difference of +between two and three years in their ages, Whistler being about twelve +years old; but their dispositions harmonized together well, and quite a +strong friendship had grown up between them. A very different feeling, +however, had for some time existed between Oscar and Whistler. They +were in the same class at school; but Whistler studied hard, and thus, +though much younger than Oscar, he stood far before him as a scholar. +This awakened some feeling of resentment in Oscar, and he never let +slip any opportunity for annoying or mortifying his more industrious +and successful class-mate. + +On their way to school, on the morning in question, Ralph told Whistler +of Oscar's threat, and advised him to avoid his brother as much as +possible, for a day or two, until the affair of the blackboard should +pass from his mind. Whistler heeded this caution, and was careful not +to put himself in the way of his enemy. He succeeded in eluding him +through the day, and was on his way home from school in the afternoon, +when Oscar, who he thought had gone off in another direction, suddenly +appeared at his side. + +"You little tell-tale, you," cried Oscar, "what did you tell Ralph +about the blackboard for! I 'll learn you to mind your own business, +next time, you mean, sneaking meddler. Take that--and that," he +continued, giving Whistler several hard blows with his fist. The +latter attempted to dodge the blows, but did not return them, for this +he knew would only increase the anger of Oscar, who was so much his +superior in size and strength, as well as in the art of fisticuffs, +that he could do just about as he pleased with him. The affray, +however, was soon brought to an unexpected end, by a gentleman who +happened to witness it. Seizing Oscar by the collar of his jacket, he +exclaimed: + +"Here, here, sir! what are you doing to that little fellow? Don't you +know enough, you great lubber, to take a boy of your own size, if you +want to fight? Now run, my little man, and get out of his way," +continued the stranger, turning to Whistler, and still holding Oscar by +the collar. + +[Illustration: The Assault.] + +Whistler hesitated for a moment between the contending impulses of +obedience and manliness; and then, drawing himself up to his full +stature, he said, with a respectful but decided air: + +"No, sir, I have n't injured him, and I won't run away from him." + +"Well said, well said--you are a brave little fellow," continued the +gentleman, somewhat surprised at the turn the affair was taking. "What +is your name, sir?" + +"William Davenport." + +"And what is this boy's name?" + +"Oscar," replied Willie, and there he stopped, as if unwilling to +expose further the name of his abuser. + +"Well you may go now, Oscar," said the gentleman, relinquishing his +hold; "but if you lay your hands on William again, I shall complain of +you." + +The two boys walked off in opposite directions, the gentleman keeping +an eye upon Oscar until Whistler was out of his reach. + +A little knot of boys was drawn together by the circumstance just +related, among whom was George, Oscar's youngest brother. He witnessed +the attack, but knew nothing of its cause. As he went directly home, +while Oscar did not, he had an opportunity to report to his mother and +Ralph the scene he had just beheld. Ralph now related to his mother +the incident of the preceding day, which led to the assault; for, +seeing Oscar's unwillingness to have anything said about it, he had not +mentioned the matter to any one at home. Ralph was a generous-hearted +boy, and in this case was actuated by a regard for Oscar's feelings, +rather than by fear. + +Oscar did not come home that night until after dark. As he entered the +sitting-room, Alice, who was seated at the piano-forte, broke short off +the piece she was playing, and said, looking at him as sternly as she +could, + +"You great ugly boy!" + +"Why, what's the matter now?" inquired Oscar, who hardly knew whether +this rough salutation was designed to be in fun or in earnest; "don't I +look as well as usual?" + +"You looked well beating little Willie Davenport, don't you think you +did?" continued his sister, with the same stern look. "I 'm perfectly +ashamed of you--I declare, I did n't know you could do such a mean +thing as that." + +"I don't care," replied Oscar, "I 'll lick him again, if he does n't +mind his own business." + +As Oscar did not know that George witnessed the assault, he was at a +loss to know how Alice heard of it. She refused to tell him, and he +finally concluded that Whistler or his mother must have called there, +to enter a complaint against him. Pretty soon Mrs. Preston entered the +room, and sat down, to await the arrival of Oscar's father to tea. She +at once introduced the topic which was uppermost in her mind, by the +inquiry: + +"Oscar, what is the trouble between you and Willie Davenport?" + +"Why," replied Oscar, "he 's been telling stories about me." + +"Do you mean false stories?" + +"Yes--no--not exactly false, but it was n't true, neither." + +"It must have been a singular story, to have been either false nor +true. And as it appears there was but one story, I should like to know +what it was." + +"He told Ralph I had to stand up and look at a blackboard an hour." + +"Was that false?" + +"Yes," said Oscar, for in replying to his mother, of late, he had +usually omitted the "ma'am" (madam) which no well-bred boy will fail to +place after the yes or no addressed to a mother; "yes, it was a lie, +for I need n't have stood there five minutes, if I had n't wanted to." + +"Did you stand before the blackboard because you wanted to, or was it +intended as a punishment for not attending to your lesson!" + +"Why, I suppose it was meant for a punishment, but the master told me I +might go to my seat, whenever I wanted to study." + +"Then," said Mrs. Preston, "after all your quibbling, I don't see that +Willie told any falsehood. And, in fact, I don't believe he had any +idea of injuring you, when he told Ralph of the affair. He only spoke +of it as a little matter of news. But even if he had told a lie about +you, or had related the occurrence out of ill-will towards you, would +that be any excuse for your conduct, in beating him as you did this +afternoon! Do you remember the subject of your last Sabbath-school +lesson?" + +Oscar could not recall it, and shook his head in the negative. + +"I have not forgotten it," continued his mother; "it was on forgiving +our enemies, and it is a lesson that you very much need to learn. 'If +ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive +your trespasses,'--that was one of the verses of the lesson. It is +noble to forgive, but it is mean to retaliate. You must learn to +conquer your resentful spirit, or you will be in trouble all the time. +I shall report this matter to your father when he comes. I suppose you +remember what he promised you, when you had your fight with Sam Oliver?" + +Oscar remembered it very distinctly. On that occasion, his father +reprimanded him with much severity, and assured him that any repetition +of the fault would not go unpunished. + +Mr. Preston soon came in, and as the family sat at the tea-table, he +was informed of Oscar's misconduct. After scolding the culprit with +much sharpness, for his attack upon Willie, he concluded by ordering +him immediately to bed. Although it yet lacked two hours of his usual +bed-time, Oscar did not consider his punishment very severe, but +retired to his chamber, feeling delighted that he had got off so much +easier than he anticipated. Indeed, so little did he think of his +father's command, that he felt in no hurry to obey it. Instead of +going to bed, he sat awhile at the window, listening to the music of a +flute which some one in the neighborhood was playing upon. Presently +Ralph and George, who slept in the same chamber with him, came up to +keep him company. They amused themselves together for some time, and +Oscar quite forgot that he had been sent to bed, until the door +suddenly opened, and his father, whose attention had been attracted by +the noise, stood before him. + +"Did n't I tell you to go to bed an hour ago, Oscar?" he inquired. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Why have n't you obeyed me, then?" + +"Because," said Oscar, "I 've got a lesson to get to-night, and I have +n't studied it yet." + +"If you 've got a lesson to learn, where is your book?" inquired his +father. + +"It 's down stairs; I was afraid to go after it, and so I was trying to +coax Ralph to get it for me." + +"O, what a story!" cried George; "why, father, he has n't said one word +about his book." + +This was true. Oscar, in his extremity, had hastily framed a +falsehood, trusting that his assurance would enable him to carry it +through. And he would probably have succeeded but for George; as +Ralph, in his well-meant but very mistaken kindness for Oscar, would +not have been very likely to expose him. But the lie was nailed, and +Oscar's bold and wicked push had only placed him in a far worse +position than he occupied before. His father, for a moment, could +scarcely believe his ears; but this feeling of astonishment soon gave +way to a frown, before which Oscar cowered like a sheep before a lion. +Mr. Preston was a man of strong passions, but of few words. Having set +forth briefly but in vivid colors the aggravated nature of Oscar's +three-fold offence,--his attack upon Willie, his disobedience when +ordered to bed, and the falsehood with which he attempted to cover up +his disobedience,--he proceeded to inflict summary and severe +chastisement upon the offender. It was very rarely that he resorted to +this means of discipline, but this he deemed a case where it was +imperatively demanded. + +Silence reigned in the boys' chamber the rest of the night. Oscar was +too sullen to speak; Ralph silently pitied his brother, not less for +the sins into which he had fallen than for the pain he had suffered; +and George was too much taken up with thinking about the probable +after-clap of this storm, to notice anything else. + +Oscar was fond of his bed, and was usually the last one of the family +to rise, especially in cool weather. On the morning after the +occurrences above related, he laid abed later than usual even with him. +His father had gone to the store, and the children were out-doors at +play, before he made his appearance at the breakfast-table. He sat +down to the deserted table, and was helping himself to the cold +remnants of the meal, when his mother entered the room. Oscar noticed +that she looked unusually sad and dejected. After sitting in silence a +few moments, she remarked: + +"You see how I look, this morning, Oscar. I did not sleep half an hour +last night, and now I am not fit to be up from my bed--and all on your +account. I am afraid your misconduct will be the death of me, yet. I +used to love to think how much comfort I should take in you, when you +should grow up into a tall, manly youth; but I have been sadly +disappointed, so far. The older you grow, the worse you behave, and +the more trouble you make me. Do you intend always to go on in this +way?" + +Oscar nervously spread the slice of bread before him, but made no +reply. His mother continued her reproofs, in the same sad but +affectionate tone. She appealed to his sense of right, to his +gratitude, and to his hopes of future success and respectability in +life. She described the sad end to which these beginnings of +wrong-doing would inevitably lead him, and earnestly besought him to +try to do better, before his bad habits should become confirmed. Her +earnest manner, and her pale, haggard cheeks, down which tears were +slowly stealing, touched the feelings of Oscar. Moisture began to +gather in his eyes, in spite of himself. He tried to appear very much +interested in the food he was eating, and to look as though he was +indifferent to what his mother was saying. And, in a measure, he did +succeed in choking down those good feelings which were beginning to +stir in his heart, and which, mistaken boy! he thought it would be +unmanly to betray. + +Yes, he was mistaken--sadly mistaken. Unmanly to be touched by a +mother's grief, and to be moved by a mother's tender entreaties! +Unmanly to acknowledge that we have done wrong, or to express sorrow +for the wrong act! Unmanly to resolve to resist temptation in the +future! Where is this monstrous law of manliness to be found? If +anywhere, it must be only in the code of pirates and desperadoes, who +have renounced all human laws and ties. + +The school hour was at hand, and Oscar was obliged to start as soon as +he had finished his breakfast. Had he not stifled the better +promptings of his heart, and thus done violence to his nature, he would +not have left his mother without assuring her that he felt sorry for +his misconduct; for he _did_ feel some degree of regret, although he +was too proud to acknowledge it. His mother, however, saw some tokens +of feeling which he could not wholly conceal, and she left him with a +sad heart, but with the hope that at least some faint impression had +been made upon him. + +And, indeed, some impression was made upon Oscar's heart. The feeling +of sullenness with which he awoke, had subsided into something +resembling "low spirits." Nor was this all the effect his mother's +conversation had upon him. As he lay awake in the morning, he had +planned the secret destruction of a beautiful sled which had been given +to George, the winter previous, and which was very precious in the eyes +of the owner; but now he relinquished this mean and revengeful design. +Little George thus escaped the dreaded "after-clap," but he never knew +what a blow it would have been, nor how near he came to feeling its +full force. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE HOTEL. + +One of Oscar's most intimate companions was a boy of about his own age, +named Alfred Walton, who attended the same school with him. Alfred's +father was dead; but he had a step-father, whom he called father, and +with whom he lived. His home was to Oscar a very attractive one; for +it was a public house, and had large stables and a stage-office +attached, and was usually full of company. Alfred's step-father was +the landlord of the hotel, and of course he and his young friends were +privileged characters about the premises. Oscar and Alfred were +together a great deal of the time, when out of school, and quite a warm +friendship existed between them. On Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, +and during the other play hours of the week, Oscar might generally be +found about the hotel premises, or riding on the coaches with Alfred. +He only regretted that he could not stay there altogether; for he +thought it must be a fine thing to live in such a place, where he could +do pretty much as he pleased, without anybody's interference. Such, at +least, seemed to be the privilege of Alfred; for everybody, from his +step-father down to the humblest servants, appeared to have too much +other business on their hands to give much attention to his boyish +movements. + +Oscar made many acquaintances at the hotel, not a few of which were +anything but desirable for a boy of his age and character. He was on +chatty terms with all the stage-drivers, hostlers, and servants about +the premises, and also got acquainted with many strangers who stopped +there for a season. He was very fond of listening to the stories of +the drivers and other frequenters of the stage-office, and he would sit +by the hour, inhaling the smoke of their cigars, admiring their long +yarns, and laughing at the jokes they cracked. Much of this +conversation was coarse and even vulgar, such as a pure mind could not +listen to without suffering contamination, or at least a blunting of +its delicate sensibilities. It is a serious misfortune for a youth to +be exposed to such influences, but Oscar did not know it, or did not +believe it. + +Among the hangers about the stable, was a queer fellow who went by the +name of Andy. His real name was Anderson. He was weak-minded and +childish, his lack of intellect taking the form of silliness rather +than of stupidity. Indeed, he was bright and quick in his way, but it +was a very foolish and nonsensical way. He was famous among all the +boys of the neighborhood, for using strange and amusing words, and +especially for a system of spelling on which he prided himself, and +which is not laid down in any of the dictionaries. He afforded much +sport to the boys, who would gather around him, and give him words by +the dozen to spell. The readiness and ingenuity with which he would +mis-spell the most simple words, was quite amusing to them. He never +hesitated, nor stopped to think, but always spelt the given word in his +peculiar way, just as promptly as though he did it according to a rule +which he perfectly understood. + +One Saturday afternoon, as Oscar and Alfred were looking about the +stable, Andy suddenly made his appearance, and asked them for a bit of +tobacco. Both of the boys, by the way, wished to be considered +tobacco-chewers, and usually carried a good-sized piece of the vile +weed in their pockets, though it must be confessed that the little they +consumed was rather for appearance sake, than because they liked it. +They also smoked occasionally, for the same reason. + +"You must spell us a word or two, first," said Alfred, in reply to +Andy's request. + +"No, I can't stop--got important business to negotiate," replied Andy. + +"Yes, you must," continued Alfred; "spell fun." + +"P-h-u-g-n," said Andy. + +"Spell hotel," continued Alfred. + +"H-o-e-t-e-l-l-e." + +"Spell calculate," said Oscar. + +"K-a-l-k-e-w-l-a-i-g-h-t--there, that 'll do," continued Andy. + +"No, spell one more word--spell tobacco, and you shall have it," added +Alfred. + +"T-o-e-b-a-c-k-k-o-u-g-h--now hand over the 'baccy.'" + +"I have n't got any--have you, Oscar?" said Alfred + +Oscar fumbled in his pockets, but there was none to be found. + +"You mean, contemptible scalliwags!" exclaimed Andy, "why did n't you +tell me that before? You catch me in that trap again, if you can!" and +he walked off in a passion, amid the laughter of Oscar and Alfred. + +"Let's go and see the pups, Alf," said Oscar, after they had got done +laughing over the joke they had played upon Andy. + +Alfred's step-father had a fine dog of the hound species, with a litter +of cunning little pups. A bed had been made for her and the little +ones in a corner of the yard, adjoining the stable, with a rough +covering to shelter them from wind and storms. The pups were now +several weeks old. There were five of them, and a fat and frolicksome +set they were too. As the boys approached them, they were frisking and +capering as usual; tumbling and rolling over one another, climbing upon +the back of their mother, and pulling and barking at the straw. Their +mother, whose name was Bright, sat watching their gambols with a very +affectionate but sedate look. Perhaps she was wondering whether _she_ +was ever so mischievous and frisky as these little fellows were. When +the pups looked up and saw the boys, they stopped their fun for a time, +for they were not yet much accustomed to company. Bright, however, +knew both Alfred and Oscar; and as she was a dog of good education and +accomplished manners, she did not allow herself to be disconcerted in +the least by their presence. + +"You did n't know father had given all the pups but one to me, did you, +Oscar?" inquired Alfred. + +"No,--has he, though?" asked Oscar. + +"Yes, he has. I knew I could make him say yes, and so I teased him +till he did. He 's going to pick out one, to keep, and I 'm to have +all the rest." + +"That's first-rate," said Oscar; "and you 'll give me one, won't you?" + +"Yes, you may have one," replied Alfred; "but don't tell the boys I +gave it to you, for I mean to sell the others." + +"Then I 'll pay you for mine," continued Oscar; "I can get the money +out of father, I guess." + +"No, you shan't pay for it, for I meant you should have one of them, if +you wanted it," replied Alfred. + +"Thank you," said Oscar, "I should like one very much." + +After looking at the dogs awhile, and canvassing their respective +merits, they happened to notice that one of the drivers was about +starting off with his coach. + +"Halloo, Mack!" cried Alfred, "where are you going!" + +"To the depôt," replied the driver. + +"Let's go, Oscar," said Alfred; and both boys ran for the coach, the +driver stopping until they had climbed up to his seat. + +A ride of five minutes brought them to the depôt, where the driver +reined up, to await the arrival of a train, which was nearly due. Many +other carriages, of various kinds, were standing around the depôt, for +the same purpose. Oscar and Alfred rambled about the building and +adjoining grounds, watching the operations that were going on; for +though they had witnessed the same operations many times before, there +is something quite attractive about such scenes, even to older heads +than theirs. On one track, within the depôt, were six or eight cars, +beneath which a man was crawling along, carefully examining the running +gear, and giving each wheel two or three smart raps with a hammer, to +see if it had a clear and natural ring. These cars had lately arrived +from a distant city, and must undergo a careful scrutiny before they +are again used. If any break or flaw is discovered, the car is sent +out to the repair-shop. On another track, the men were making up the +next outward train. The particular baggage and passenger cars that +were to be used, had to be separated from the others, and arranged in +their proper order. Another track was kept clear, for the train that +was soon to arrive. Two or three locomotives, outside of the depôt, +were fizzing and hissing, occasionally moving back or forward, with a +loud coughing noise, or changing from one track to another. + +The bell of the looked-for train was at length heard. The engine, as +it approached, was switched upon a side-track, but the cars, from which +it had been detached, kept on their course until the brakes brought +them to a stand in the depôt. The passengers now swarmed forth by +hundreds--a curious and motley crowd of men, women, and children; +good-looking people, and ill-looking ones; the fine lady in silk, and +the rough backwoods-man in homespun; the middle-aged woman in black, +with three trunks and four bandboxes, and the smooth-faced dandy, whose +sole baggage was a slender cane. + +The cars were at length emptied of their living freight, and most of +the passengers had secured their baggage. Those who wished to ride, +had mostly engaged seats in the various hacks and coaches, whose +drivers accosted every passenger, as he got out of the cars, with their +invitations to "ride up." Alfred and Oscar now started to look after +the stage-coach in which they rode to the depôt. They found it loaded +with passengers and baggage, and the driver was talking with two small +lads, of from twelve to thirteen years of age. + +"Here, Alf," said the driver, "you are just the fellow I want, but I +thought you had gone. These boys want to go to the hotel, but I have +n't room to take them. They say they had just as lief walk, and if you +'ll let them go with you, I 'll take their trunk along." + +This was readily agreed to. The driver made room for the trunk on the +top of the coach, and the young strangers started for the hotel, in +company with Alfred and Oscar. As they walked along, they grew quite +sociable. The two new-comers,--who, by the way, were quite respectable +in their appearance,--stated that they belonged in one of the cities of +Maine, and had never been in Boston before. They were brothers; and +both their parents being dead, they said they were on their way to the +west, where they had an uncle, who had sent for them to come and live +with him. They had a good many questions to ask about Boston, and said +they meant to look around the city some the next day, as they must +resume their journey on Monday. Alfred said he would go with them, and +show them the principal sights; and Oscar, too, would have gladly +volunteered, were it not that his father required him to go to church +and the Sabbath-school on that day, and to stay in the house when not +thus engaged. + +The boys had now reached the hotel, where the trunk had already +arrived. A room was appropriated to the young guests, and Alfred and +Oscar conducted them to it, and remained awhile in conversation with +them. By-and-bye, the oldest of the strangers asked Alfred if he would +go and show them where they could buy some good pistols. Alfred +readily agreed to this, and the four boys started off towards the shops +where such articles are sold. On their way through the crowded +streets, the new-comers found much to attract their attention. They +seemed inclined to stop at every shop window, to admire some object, +and it was nearly dark when they reached the place where they were to +make their purchase. Here, amid the variety of pistols that were +exhibited to them, they were for a time unable to decide which to +choose. At length, however, aided by the advice of Alfred and Oscar, +they picked out two that they concluded to buy. They also purchased a +quantity of powder and balls, and then desired to look at some dirks, +two of which they decided to take. Some fine pocket-knives next +arrested their attention, which were examined, and greatly admired by +all the boys. The oldest of the strangers, who did all the business, +concluded to take four of these, and then settled for all the articles +purchased. The bill was not very small, but his pocket-book was +evidently well supplied, and he paid it with out any difficulty. + +After they had left the store, the oldest boy gave Oscar and Alfred, +each, one of the pocket-knives, to pay them for their trouble, as he +expressed it. They were much pleased with their present, and felt very +well satisfied with their afternoon's adventure. They were a little +surprised, however, that their new friends should think it necessary to +invest so largely in weapons of defence; and on their hinting this +surprise, the boy who purchased the articles said, with a careless, +business-like air: + +"O, we 've got to travel a good many hundred miles, and there 's no +knowing what rough fellows we may fall in with. But give me a good +revolver and dirk, and I bet I will take care of myself, anywhere." + +The seriousness with which this brave language was uttered by a boy +scarcely yet in his teens, would have made even Alfred and Oscar smile, +but for the consciousness of the new knives in their pockets. + +It was now quite dark, and on coming to a street which led more +directly towards his home, Oscar left the other boys, with the promise +of seeing them again Monday morning. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE YOUNG TRAVELLERS. + +The Sabbath came, and a fine autumnal day it was. Oscar's thoughts +were with Alfred, and the boys whose acquaintance he had made the +afternoon previous; but there was little chance for him to join them in +their walks on that day. He could not absent himself from church or +the Sunday-school, without his parents' knowledge; and Mr. Preston had +always decidedly objected to letting the children stroll about the +streets on the Sabbath. Oscar felt so uneasy, however, that in the +afternoon, a little while before meeting-time, he left the house slyly, +while his father was upstairs, and walked around to Alfred's. But he +saw nothing of the boys, and was in his accustomed seat in the church +when the afternoon services commenced. + +The next morning, Oscar rose earlier than usual, and as soon as he +could despatch his breakfast, he hurried over to the hotel. The +travellers had concluded to defer their journey one day longer, that +they might have a better opportunity to see Boston; and when Oscar +approached them, they were trying to persuade Alfred to stay away from +school, and accompany them in their rambles. They immediately extended +the same invitation to Oscar. Both he and Alfred felt very much +inclined to accede to their proposition, but they were pretty sure that +it would be useless to ask their parents' consent to absent themselves +from school for such a purpose. The point to be settled was, whether +it would be safe to play truant for the day. Seeing that they +hesitated, the oldest boy, whose name was Joseph, began to urge the +matter still more earnestly. + +"What are you afraid of?" he said; "come along, it's no killing affair +to stay away from school just for one day. You can manage so that +nobody will know it; and if they should find it out, it won't make any +difference a hundred years hence. Come, now, I 'll tell you what I 'll +do; if you two will go around with us to-day, I 'll give you a quarter +of a dollar apiece." + +Oscar and Alfred, after some little hesitation, yielded to their +request, and the four boys started on their tramp. It was not without +many misgivings, however, that Oscar decided to accompany them. With +him, the chances of detection were much greater than with Alfred. No +brothers of the latter attended school, to notice and report his +absence. With Oscar, the case was different, and he did not see +exactly how his truancy was to be concealed from his parents and +teachers. But as Alfred was going with the boys, he finally concluded +that he, too, would run the risk for at least half a day, and trust to +luck to escape punishment. + +It was decided to go over to the neighboring city of Charlestown, +first, and visit the Monument and Navy-Yard, both of which the young +strangers were quite anxious to see. Joseph, the oldest and most +forward, began to be on quite intimate terms with Oscar and Alfred. He +threw off every restraint, and laughed and talked with them just as if +they were old acquaintances. One thing very noticeable about him, was +his profanity. Neither Alfred nor Oscar, I am sorry to say, was +entirely free from this wicked and disgusting habit; but they had made +so little advance in this vice, compared with their new friend, that +even they were slightly shocked by the frequent and often startling +oaths of Joseph. + +The younger lad, whose name was Stephen, appeared to be quite unlike +his brother. Though sociable, he was less gay and more reserved than +Joseph, but he seemed to be much interested in the novel sights that +met his eye at every step. + +On their way, the boys came to a cellar which was occupied by a dealer +in fruits and other refreshments. Around the entrance were arranged +numerous boxes of oranges, apples, nuts, candy, and similar articles, +to tempt the passer-by to stop and purchase. The owner was not in +sight, and Joseph, as he passed along, boldly helped himself from one +of the boxes, taking a good hand-full of walnuts. On looking around, a +moment after, he saw a man running up the cellar steps, and concluded +that he, too, had better quicken his pace. He accordingly started on a +brisk run, the other boys joining in his flight. The man, who happened +to witness the theft from the back part of the cellar, soon saw that +pursuit would be useless, and contented himself with shaking his fist, +and uttering some anathemas which were inaudible to those for whom they +were intended. + +"That was a pretty narrow escape, was n't it?" said Joseph, after they +had got a safe distance from the man. + +"It was so," replied Alfred; "and it was lucky for you that he did n't +catch you." + +"Why, what do you suppose he would have done?" + +"He would have taken you up for stealing, I guess, for he looked mad +enough to do anything," said Alfred. + +"Stealing? Pooh, a man must be a fool to make such a fuss about a +cent's-worth of nuts," replied Joseph. + +"I knew a boy," said Oscar, "who stole a cake of maple sugar from one +of these stands, and his father had to pay two or three dollars to get +him out of the scrape." + +"I would n't have done it," said Joseph; "I 'd have gone to jail +first--that 's just my pluck." + +"But the boy did n't do it--it was his father that paid the money," +added Oscar. + +"O, then, I suppose the boy was n't to blame," said Joseph, with all +seriousness; as though he really believed that somebody was to blame, +not for stealing the maple sugar, but for satisfying the man who had +been injured by the theft. + +They were now upon one of the bridges which cross Charles River, and +connect the cities of Boston and Charlestown. After passing half-way +over, they stopped a few minutes to gaze at the scene spread out around +them. Oscar and Alfred pointed out to the strangers the various +objects of interest, and they then continued their walk without +interruption until they reached the Monument grounds, on Bunker Hill. +After examining the noble granite shaft which commemorates the first +great battle of the American Revolution, they threw themselves down +upon the grass, to contemplate at their leisure the fine panorama which +this hill affords on a clear day. + +After lingering half an hour around the Monument, they turned their +steps towards the Navy-Yard. On reaching it, they found a soldier +slowly pacing back and forth, in front of the gate-way; but he made no +objection to their entering. Joseph and Stephen, who had never before +visited an establishment of this kind, were first struck by the extent +of the yard, and the air of order and neatness which seemed everywhere +to prevail. They gazed with curiosity upon the long rows of iron +cannons interspersed with pyramids of cannon-balls, piled up in exact +order, which were spread out upon the parks. Then their wonder was +excited by the dry-dock, with its smooth granite walls, its massive +gates, and its capacious area, sufficient to float the largest frigate. +The lofty ship-houses in which vessels are constructed, and the long +stone rope-walk, with its curious machinery, also attracted their +attention. So interested were they in these things, that nearly two +hours elapsed before they started for home. + +On their way back to the hotel, Joseph entertained Alfred and Oscar +with some incidents of his life. His mother, he said, died when he was +quite young. His father went to sea as the captain of a ship, two +years before, and had never been heard from. He had rich relatives, +who wanted him to go to West Point and be a cadet, but he did not like +to study, and had persuaded them to let him and Stephen go and live +with their uncle at the west, who had no boys of his own, and wanted +somebody to help him to manage his immense farm. Such, in brief, was +Joseph's story. + +On their return route, the boys were careful to avoid passing by the +cellar from which Joseph had stolen the nuts. With all his pluck and +bravery, he did not care about meeting the man whose displeasure he had +excited a few hours before. + +It was twelve o'clock before the boys reached the hotel. Oscar, during +the latter part of the walk, had been unusually silent. He was +thinking how he should manage to conceal his truancy, but he could not +hit upon any satisfactory plan. The more he reflected upon the matter, +the more he was troubled and perplexed about it. He might possibly +hide his mis-spent forenoon from his parents, but how should he explain +his absence to his teachers? He could not tell. He decided, however, +to see his brothers before they should get home from school, and, if +they had noticed his absence, to prevail upon them to say nothing about +it. + +"You 'll be back again after dinner, Oscar?" said Alfred, as his friend +started for home. + +"Yes," replied Oscar, with some hesitation; "I 'll see you before +school-time." + +"School-time? You don't intend to go to school this afternoon, do +you?" inquired Alfred. + +Oscar did not reply, but hastened homeward. He soon found Ralph and +George, but as neither of them spoke of his absence from school, he +concluded that they were ignorant of it, and he therefore made no +allusion to the subject. + +After dinner, Oscar had about half an hour to spend with Alfred; for he +felt so uneasy in his mind, that he had decided not to absent himself +from school in the afternoon. He had gone but a short distance when he +met his comrade, who had started in pursuit of him. + +"Well," said Alfred, "we 've been taken in nicely, that's a fact." + +"Taken in--what do you mean?" inquired Oscar. + +"Why, by those young scamps that we 've been showing around town." + +"I thought they told great stories," said Oscar; "but what have you +found out about them?" + +"I 've found out that they are the greatest liars I ever came +across--or at least that the oldest fellow is," replied Alfred; and he +then went on to relate what transpired immediately after Oscar left +them, on their return from Charlestown. The landlord, it seems, +requested the two strange boys to step into one of the parlors; and +Alfred, not understanding the order, accompanied them. They found two +men seated there, the sight of whom seemed anything but pleasant to +Joseph and Stephen. These men were their fathers--for the boys were +not brothers, and Joseph's account of their past life and future +prospects was entirely false. They had run away from home, and the +money which they had so profusely spent, Joseph stole from his father. +The men, who had been put to much trouble in hunting up their wayward +sons, did not greet them very cordially. They looked stern and +offended, but said little. Joseph was obliged to deliver up his money +to his father, and they immediately made preparations for returning +home by the afternoon train. + +"Well," said Oscar, when Alfred had concluded his story, "I did n't +believe all that boy said, at the time, but I thought I would n't say +so." + +"Nor I, neither," said Alfred. "I guess he did n't expect his father's +ship would arrive so suddenly, when he tried to stuff us up so." + +"Did your father know you went off with them in the forenoon?" inquired +Oscar. + +"Yes, but he did n't care much about it. He told me I must go to +school this afternoon, and not stay away again without leave." + +The rules of the school required a written note of excuse from the +parents, in case of absence. Neither of the boys was furnished with +such an excuse, and after a little consultation, they concluded that +their chances of escaping punishment would be greatest, if they should +frankly confess how they had been duped and led astray by the young +rogues whose acquaintance they had so suddenly and imprudently formed. +They supposed that the peculiar circumstances of the case, coupled with +a voluntary confession, might excite some degree of sympathy, rather +than displeasure, towards them. To make the matter doubly sure, it was +arranged that Alfred should speak to the master about the matter before +school commenced. + +When the boys reached the school-room, they found the master already at +his desk. He listened with interest to Alfred's story of the runaways, +and was evidently pleased that he had so frankly confessed his fault. +As the hour for commencing the afternoon session had arrived, he told +Alfred and Oscar they might stop after school, and he would take their +case into consideration. + +The afternoon passed away, without any unusual occurrence. When school +was dismissed, the teacher called Alfred and Oscar to his desk, and +gave them some excellent advice in regard to forming acquaintances, and +yielding to the solicitations of evil associates. He told them that +the deception which had been practiced upon them, should serve as a +lesson to them hereafter. They should not form sudden acquaintances +with strange and unknown boys, but should choose their associates from +among those whom they knew to be of good habits. He also earnestly +cautioned them against yielding to the enticements of those who would +persuade them to do wrong. He told them that whenever they laid the +blame of their faults upon others, they made a sad confession of their +own moral weakness. They must often encounter temptations, and evil +examples and influences, even if they took pains to avoid them; but +they were not obliged to yield to these influences. They must learn to +resist temptation, or they would speedily be swept away before it. + +Having faithfully pointed out their error and danger, the teacher +dismissed the boys. They listened respectfully to his advice, and, +when they were beyond his hearing, chuckled over their escape from a +species of admonition that might have proved far more feeling and +affecting, if not more salutary, than the kindly-meant reproof which +had been administered to them. The leniency of the teacher, however, +must be attributed to his not fully understanding the character of +their offence; for Alfred had so artfully represented the facts of the +case, as to make their truancy appear in a milder light than it +deserved to be regarded. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WORK. + +"Oscar, go down cellar and get some coal," said Mrs. Preston one +evening, when the fire was getting low. + +"I 'm reading--you go and get it, Ralph," said Oscar, without looking +up from the newspaper in his hand. + +"No, I shan't," replied Ralph; "I 've done all your chores to-day, and +I won't do any more." + +"Tell Bridget to bring it up, then," added Oscar, his eyes still +fastened upon his paper. + +"Oscar," said Mrs. Preston, sharply, "I told you to get it, and do you +obey me, this minute. Bridget has worked hard all day, and Ralph has +already had to do several errands and jobs that you ought to have done, +and that is the reason why I did not ask them to get the coal. You +have done nothing but play, when you were out of school, since morning, +and now, when I ask you to do a trifling thing, you try to shirk it +upon somebody else. I do wish you would break yourself of your +laziness, and have a little consideration for other people." + +Oscar reluctantly obeyed his mother's order. Indeed, it was seldom +that he was very prompt to obey, when any kind of labor was required of +him. He had a peculiar knack of getting rid of work. If he was +directed to do a thing, he was almost sure to try to coax Alice, or +Ella, or Ralph, or Bridget, or somebody else, to do it for him. He +never taxed his own legs, or hands, or muscles, when he could make use +of other people's. This lazy habit was a source of no small anxiety to +his mother, and was a constant annoyance to all the family. + +"Well, you did make out to get it," said Mrs. Preston, in a pleasant +tone, when Oscar returned with the coal. "I hope it did n't hurt you +much." + +"I was n't afraid of its hurting me," said Oscar "but I was reading, +and did n't want to stop." + +"I am afraid that is only an excuse," replied his mother. "It has +really got to be a habit with you to call upon somebody else, whenever +you are told to do a thing. We have all noticed it, a hundred times, +and you alone seem to be blind to it. In a year or two, when you are +old enough to leave school, and go to a place, what do you suppose you +will be good for, if you keep on in this way? Why, the man who should +take you into his employ, would have to hire another boy on purpose to +wait upon you." + +"It is just as mother says, Oscar," added his eldest sister, Alice. +"It was only this morning that Bridget was scolding, because you wanted +to be waited upon so much. She says you make her more trouble than all +the rest of us together." + +Oscar could not deny these charges, and so he said nothing, but +appeared to be reading his newspaper very intently. Mr. Preston came +in soon after, and the family sat down to tea. + +"Oscar," said Mr. Preston, "next week is vacation, is it not?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar. + +"Well, I shall want you in the store a part of the time," continued his +father. "Frank is going home to spend Thanksgiving, and as it will be +a busy week with us, we must have somebody to take his place." + +"Why can't Henry do the errands while Frank is away?" inquired Oscar. + +"Because Henry will have as much other work as he can attend to," +replied Mr. Preston. + +"I don't see why you let Frank go off at such a time," said Oscar, +pettishly. + +"It is not necessary that you should see," replied his father. "I can +manage my business without any advice from you, and I don't want you to +call me to account for what I do. I have given Frank a vacation, and I +shall expect assistance from you--that is all it is necessary for you +to know about it." + +Frank was the errand-boy in Mr. Preston's shop. Henry, upon whom Oscar +wished to lay the burden occasioned by Frank's absence, was a young +clerk, who had formerly served as chore-boy, but was now quite useful +as a salesman. + +It was evident, from Oscar's looks, that he did not much relish the +idea of taking Frank's place for a week. His mother, noticing this, +said: + +"Why, Oscar, I thought you and Frank were good friends, and I should +suppose you would be willing to relieve him a few days. The poor boy +has been away from his mother nearly a year, and it is natural that he +should want to go home and spend Thanksgiving. If you were in his +place, and he in yours, don't you think you should like the arrangement +your father proposes?" + +"I suppose I should," replied Oscar; "but it's hard for me to lose my +vacation, for the sake of letting him have one." + +"You will not lose all your vacation," said his father "If you are +lively, you can do all I shall want you to do in four or five hours, +and have the rest of the day to yourself." + +"And I 'll help you, too," said Ralph, who was always ready to offer +his assistance in such a case as this. + +"Thanksgiving week" soon arrived, and the busy note of preparation for +the approaching festival was heard throughout the house. Bridget was +invested with a new dignity, in the eyes of the children, as she +bustled about among the mince-meat and the pie-crust, the eggs and the +milk, the fruit and the spices, that were to be compounded into all +sorts of good things. The house was filled with savory odors from the +oven, and long rows of pies began to fill up every vacant space in the +closet. Mrs. Preston was busy, superintending the operations of the +household; while Alice and Ella rendered such assistance as they could, +in the chopping of pie-meat, the paring of apples, the picking of +raisins, &c. The boys, for their share, had an unusual number of +errands to run, to keep the busy hands inside supplied with working +materials. Oscar, however, was released for the week from all home +chores, in consideration of his engagements at the store. + +Oscar did not find his duties as temporary store-boy quite so irksome +or disagreeable as he anticipated. The work was light, and the novelty +of it served to offset the confinement, which he had dreaded more than +anything else. With some assistance from Ralph, he managed to do all +that was required of him, and still have several hours each day for +play. He also had an opportunity to learn some useful lessons during +the week. + +One morning, his father sent him up-stairs to sweep out a room which +was devoted to a certain branch of the business. Happening to go into +it an hour or two after, Mr. Preston observed that it was in a dirty +state, and called to Oscar to get a broom and sprinkler, and come up. + +"I told you to sweep this room out," said he, as Oscar made his +appearance; "did you forget it?" + +"I _have_ swept it," said Oscar, in a tone of surprise. + +"You have?" exclaimed Mr. Preston, with an air of incredulity; "I guess +you are mistaken. You may have shaken the broom at it, but I don't +think you swept it. See there--and there--and there,"--and he pointed +out numerous little heaps of dirt, and scraps of paper, which had +escaped Oscar's broom. "Now," he continued, "let me show you how to +sweep. In the first place, always sprinkle the floor a little, to +prevent the dust flying, as I told you a day or two ago. You omitted +that this morning, did n't you?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar. + +"Well, just remember it hereafter, for the dust injures the goods. +There 's water enough, now pass me the broom, and I 'll show you how to +handle it. Look, now--that 's the way to sweep--get all the dirt out +from the corners and crevices, and along the edges, and under the +counters. Use the broom as though you meant to do something, and were +not afraid of it. There, that 's the way to sweep clean--so--and so," +and Mr. Preston continued his explanations and illustrations, until he +had swept the entire floor. + +"There, now, does n't that look better?" he added, after he had +finished sweeping. "If a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth +doing well--that's the true doctrine, Oscar. I hope you won't get in +the habit of making half-way work with whatever you undertake. If I +never expected to do anything but sweep chimneys or dig clams for a +living, I would do it thoroughly and faithfully. Of all things, I +despise a lazy, slovenly workman." + +It was a very common thing with Oscar to slight his work, when he could +not get rid of it entirely. This was partly the result of a want of +interest in it, and partly the result of habit. The child who performs +a task reluctantly, will not be very likely to do it well. + +The day before Thanksgiving, as Oscar was on his way to the store, +after dinner, he met Alfred Walton. + +"You 're just the chap I 'm after, Oscar," said Alfred; "I'm going out +to Cambridge, all alone in a wagon, and I want you to go with me. +Come, jump in and go, won't you?" + +This was a tempting invitation to Oscar, but he did not see how he +could accept it. He was needed at the store more than ever, that +afternoon, but it was too bad to lose such a fine chance to enjoy +himself. Alfred was in a hurry, and could not stop long for him to +consider the matter. So he concluded to run home, and ask his father's +permission, while Alfred went and got the horse ready. But when he got +home, his father had left. He found Ralph, however, who readily agreed +to take his place at the store, for the afternoon; and on the strength +of this arrangement, he hurried to the hotel and rode off with Alfred. + +It was a mild, pleasant afternoon, and the boys had a fine ride. +Alfred had been among horses so much, that he understood their +management pretty well, and was a very good driver. He prided himself +on his ability to turn a neat corner, and to steer through the +narrowest and most crooked passage-ways, such as abound in the +contracted and crowded streets of a city. When they reached the broad +avenues of Cambridge, he allowed Oscar to take the reins awhile, at his +request. + +Alfred's step-father had been out to Cambridge, in the forenoon of the +same day, and had purchased a horse at the cattle-market which is held +weekly at that place. As he was obliged to return home by the cars, he +left word that he would send out for the horse, in the afternoon. This +was Alfred's errand. After several inquiries, the boys found the man +who sold the horse. Having examined the new purchase, and freely +expressed their opinions of the animal's "points," they hitched his +halter to the wagon, and set out for home. + +The sun was rapidly descending, when the boys reached the hotel stable. +Oscar, who felt somewhat uneasy about his absence from the store, +turned his steps in that direction, soon after he alighted from the +wagon. He found all hands very busy, and for a long time no one +appeared to notice him. At length his father happened to come to the +part of the shop where he was, and asked him where he had been all the +afternoon. Oscar proceeded to explain the cause of his absence, but +Mr. Preston was in too much of a hurry to listen to his long excuses, +and so he cut him short, and told him, in not very pleasant tones, that +Ralph had done the work, and he (Oscar) might go home again, just as +soon as he pleased--a privilege of which he quickly availed himself. + +At the tea-table, that evening, Mr. Preston expressed his displeasure +with Oscar's conduct in very pointed terms. Oscar now explained the +circumstances of his going away--his attempt to get his father's +consent, and the promise of Ralph to supply his place. But the +explanation did not satisfy Mr. Preston. He said Oscar knew he was +needed that afternoon, and he ought not to have asked to go away, or +even to have thought of it. Even if Ralph was willing to do his work, +he did not like his putting so much upon his younger and weaker +brother. He then complimented Ralph for his industry, and his +willingness to make himself useful, and held him up to Oscar as a +pattern he would do well to imitate. He concluded his lecture to the +latter, by drawing from his pocket a quarter of a dollar, and +presenting it to Ralph, as a reward for his services. This touched +Oscar's feelings rather more than his father's reproofs. He thought to +himself that he had performed as much work in the store as Ralph, to +say the least, and was therefore as much entitled to a reward as he. +There was this difference, however, which he entirely overlooked: Oscar +did his share of the work reluctantly and from compulsion; Ralph did +his cheerfully and voluntarily, and solely for the purpose of making +himself useful. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THANKSGIVING-DAY. + +Thanksgiving-Day had come. Among the multitude of good things it +brought with it, not the least important, in the eyes of the children, +was a visit from their grandmother, Mrs. Lee, who arrived the evening +previous. She was the mother of Mrs. Preston, and lived in a distant +town in Vermont. She had not visited the family for several years, and +the children and their parents were all very glad to see her once more. +She was much surprised to find how the young folks had grown since she +last saw them. Alice had shot up into a young lady, Oscar, who she +remembered as "a little bit of a fellow," was a tall boy, Ella, too, +was quite a miss, and Georgie, "the baby," had long since exchanged his +frock for the jacket, trowsers, and boots, of boyhood. All these +changes had happened since their grandmother's last visit; and yet she +was just the same pleasant, talkative old lady that she was years ago. +The children could not discover that time had left so much as one new +wrinkle on her well-remembered face. + +[Illustration: Thanksgiving Market Scene.] + +After breakfast, their grandmother proceeded to unpack her trunk. From +its capacious depths she drew forth sundry articles,--specimens of her +own handiwork,--which she distributed among the children, as gifts. +They were all articles of utility, such as warm, "country-knit" mittens +and socks for the boys, and tippets and stockings for the girls. A +large bag filled with nuts, and another of pop-corn, were also among +the contents of the trunk, and were handed to the children to be +divided among them. + +In accordance with an agreement made the day before, Oscar soon left +the house, and went in search of Alfred. Having found him, they set +out for South Boston, in company with two or three boys, to witness a +shooting-match got up by a man who worked about the stable. The spot +selected for the sport was a retired field, where there was little +danger of being interrupted. On reaching the ground, the boys found a +small collection of young men and lads already engaged in the cruel +amusement; for the mark was a live fowl, tied to a stake. The company +assembled were of a decidedly low order, and Oscar at first felt almost +ashamed to be seen among them. Smoking, swearing, betting, and +quarrelling, were all going on at once, interspersed with occasional +shouts of laughter at some vulgar joke, or at the fluttering and cries +of a wounded fowl. Sometimes a poor chicken would receive several +shots, before its misery would be terminated by a fatal one. When one +fowl was killed, a fresh one was brought forth. Each man who fired at +the mark, paid a trifling sum for the privilege, and was entitled to +the fowl, if he killed it. + +Oscar and his young companions lingered around the grounds for an hour +or two, familiarizing themselves with scenes of shameful cruelty, and +breathing an atmosphere loaded with pollution and moral death. The +repugnance which Oscar at first felt to the party and its doings was so +far overcome, that before he left he himself fired one or two shots, +with a rifle which was lent to him. + +Oscar reached home before the hour for dinner. As he entered the +sitting-room, his mother, who had missed him, inquired where he had +been all the forenoon. + +"I 've been with Alf," he replied. + +His mother did not notice this evasion of her question, but added: + +"Why do you want to be with Alfred so much? It seems to me you might +find better company. I 'm afraid he is not so good a boy as he might +be. I don't like his looks very much." + +"Why, mother," said Oscar, "Alf is n't a bad boy, and I never heard +anybody say he was. I like him first-rate--he 's a real clever fellow." + +"He may be clever enough, but I do not think he is a very good +associate for you," replied Mrs. Preston. + +"Who ought to know best about that, you or I?" said Oscar, with a +pertness for which he was becoming a little too notorious. "I see Alf +every day, but you don't know hardly anything about him. At my rate, I +'ll risk his hurting me." + +Oscar's grandmother looked at him with astonishment, as he uttered +these words. He felt the silent rebuke, and turned his head from her. + +"Well," added Mrs. Preston, "if Alfred is not a bad boy himself, I do +not believe that the kind of people you spend so much of your time +with, around the hotel-stable, will do either you or him any good. The +lessons a boy learns among tavern loungers do not generally make him +any better, to say the least. I wish you would keep away from such +places--I should feel a good deal easier if you would." + +The subject was dropped, and dinner,--the event of Thanksgiving-day, in +every New England home,--soon began to engross the attention of the +household. It was a pleasant feast, to old and young. The children +forgot all their little, fanciful troubles, and the traces of care were +chased from their parents' brows for the hour. + +The afternoon was stormy, and the children amused themselves with +in-door sports. After tea, however, Oscar asked his father for some +money, to buy a ticket to an entertainment that was to take place in +the evening. But both his parents thought he had better stay at home, +with the rest of the family, and he reluctantly yielded to their +wishes, coupled with the promise of a story or two from his +grandmother, about old times. + +A cheerful fire was burning in the grate, when the family returned to +the parlor, from the tea-table. The lamps were not yet lit, although +the gray twilight was fast settling down, and the ruddy coals began to +reflect themselves from the polished furniture. Mrs. Preston was about +to light the lamps, when Ella exclaimed: + +"No, no, mother, don't light the lamps--let's sit in the dark awhile, +and then grandmother's stories will seem twice as romantic. You don't +want a light, do you, grandmother?" + +"No," said the grandmother, "I can talk just as well in the dark. But +I don't know as I can tell you any very interesting stories. I can't +think of anything now but what you have already heard. That's just the +way when I want to tell a story. If I was all alone, I should think of +lots of things to tell you." + +"Can't you tell us something about the Indians?--I like to hear about +them," said Oscar. + +"You would like to know how they served naughty boys, would n't you?" +inquired his grandmother; and if the room had not been quite so dark, +Oscar would have seen something like a roguish twinkle in her sober +gray eye, as she spoke. + +"O yes, grandmother," interrupted Ella, "that will suit him, I know. +At any rate, it ought to interest him--so please to tell us what they +did to their bad boys, and perhaps we shall learn how to serve Oscar." + +"And while you are about it, grandmother," said Oscar, "tell us what +they did to naughty girls, too." + +"I don't know how they punished girls," said the old lady; "but I have +heard it said that when they wished to punish a boy very severely, they +made him lie down on the ground, upon his back. They then put their +knees on his arms, and held his head back, while they took into their +mouth some very bitter stuff, made from the roots of a certain plant, +and squirted it into the boy's nose. They kept repeating the dose, +till the poor fellow was almost strangled, and I suppose by that time +he was cured of his fault." + +"Pooh, was that all?" said Oscar; "I thought something terrible was +coming." + +"I guess you would not like to try the Indian remedy more than once," +replied his mother; "but if you think it is so pleasant to take, +perhaps your father will give you a taste of it, one of these days, if +you do not behave better than you have done of late." + +"Did you ever get frightened by the Indians, grandmother?" inquired +Ralph. + +"No," replied the old lady; "there were plenty of them around, when I +was a little girl, but they had got to be quite civil, and we were not +afraid of them. I wish I could remember all the stories my mother used +to tell me about them--they were plenty and troublesome, too, in her +day. I recollect one fight that took place in our neighborhood, when +she was young. One evening, a man who was returning from another +settlement, happened to discover a party of Indians, making their way +very quietly up the river in their canoes, towards our little village. +He watched their movements as narrowly as possible, but was careful not +to let them see or hear him. When they got within about half a mile of +the settlement, they pulled their canoes ashore, and concealed them +among the bushes. They meant to creep along very slowly and slily, the +rest of the way, and then fall suddenly upon the whites, and murder and +plunder them before they could know what the matter was. But the man +who discovered them hurried on to the settlement, and gave the alarm. +Ten men was all he could muster, for there were but a few families in +the town. These men armed themselves, and by the time they were ready +for action, the Indians had already begun their work of plunder. + +"But the Indians were not cunning enough for the white folks, that +time. The settlers formed themselves into two parties--one of seven +and one of three men. The three men went down very cautiously to the +Indian's landing-place, and after cutting slits in their bark canoes, +they hid themselves, and awaited the result. While they were doing +this, the other party made such a furious and sudden attack upon the +enemy, that the Indians thought they were assailed by a force far +superior to their own, and so they fled as fast as they could. When +they reached the landing-place, they jumped pell-mell into their +canoes, and pushed out into the stream. Now they thought they would +soon be out of the reach of harm; but, to their astonishment, the +canoes began to fill with water, and were entirely unmanageable. The +three men in ambush now began to attack them, and pretty soon the other +seven came to their aid, and in a little while the Indians were all +shot or drowned, and not one of the party escaped, to inform their +kindred what had befallen them. The stream on which this happened is +called Laplot River. Laplot, they say, means 'the plot,' and a good +many people think the river got its name from the stratagem of the +settlers, but I don't know how that is." + +After musing awhile in silence, Ralph called for another story. + +"Let me see," said his grandmother; "did I ever tell you about Widow +Storey's retreat, in the Revolution!" + +"No ma'am," said Oscar; "I've read about General Burgoyne's retreat; +but I never heard of Widow Storey before: who was she?" + +"O, it was n't that kind of a retreat that I meant," said his +grandmother; "but I will tell you who she was. She lived in Salisbury, +some twenty or thirty miles from where I belong. Her husband was the +first man who settled in Salisbury, but he was very unfortunate. After +he had worked hard, and got a log cabin ready for his family, it took +fire, and was destroyed; and he himself was killed by the fall of a +tree, soon after. But his widow was a very smart woman; and though she +had eight or ten small children, she moved on to the place her husband +had selected; and the proprietors of the township gave her a hundred +acres of land to encourage and reward her. She worked just like a man, +and didn't mind chopping down trees, and cultivating the soil, with her +own hands. But by-and-bye the Revolution broke out, and as there were +British soldiers in the neighborhood, she was afraid they would make +her a visit. She fled several times to another town, where there was +less danger; but after awhile a new idea entered her head, and she +proceeded to carry it out, with the aid of a man who lived near her. +The idea was, to construct a hiding-place, where the British could not +find them, if they should pay her a visit. They selected a spot on +Otter Creek, and dug a hole right into the bank, horizontally. The +hole was a little above the water, and was just large enough for a +person to crawl into. It was so covered up by bushes that hung from +the bank, that a stranger would not notice it. This passage led to a +large lodging-room, the bottom of which was covered with straw. Good +comfortable beds were prepared, and here the families found a secure +retreat, until the danger was past." + +"That was complete," said Oscar; "but I should think the British might +have tracked them to their retreat, for it's likely they had to go home +pretty often, to get food, and look after things." + +"Yes," added his grandmother; "but they reached their retreat by a +canoe, so that no footsteps could be seen leading to it; and they were +careful not to go out or in during the day-time. I have heard my +brother James tell about it. I believe he saw the very hole once, +where they went in." + +"Uncle James was a famous hand for telling stories," remarked Mrs. +Preston. "I shall never forget what a treat it was to me, when I was a +child, to have him come to our house. I used to run out and meet him, +when I saw him coming, and coax him to tell me a good lot of stories +before he went off. I can remember some of them even now. He used to +tell a story of a crabbed old fellow, who was very much annoyed by the +boys stealing his apples. So, after awhile, he got a spring-trap, and +set it under the trees, to catch the young rogues. But the boys got +wind of the affair, and the first night he set it, they picked it up, +and very quietly put it on his door-step, and then went back to the +orchard, and began to bellow as though they were in great distress. +The old man heard the uproar, and started out, in high glee at the idea +of catching his tormentors; but he hardly put his foot out of the door, +before he began to roar himself, and he was laid up a month with a sore +leg." + +"That was old Zigzag," said the grandmother; "I knew him very well." + +"Old Zigzag!--what a funny name!" exclaimed Ralph. + +"That was n't his name, although he always went by it," added the old +lady. "He was a very odd character, and one of his peculiarities was, +that he never walked directly towards any place or object he wished to +reach, but went in a 'criss-cross,' zigzag way, like a ship beating and +tacking before a head-wind. He was a hard drinker, and was almost +continually under the influence of liquor, and perhaps that was the +cause of his singular habit. He was a terribly ugly fellow, when he +was mad, and the boys used to tease him in every possible way; but wo +to them if he got hold of them. He lived all alone, for he never had +any wife or children; and he would not allow anybody to enter his +house, on any account, but always kept the door locked. If his +neighbors had business to transact with him, he would step into the +yard and attend to them; but even in the severest weather, he would not +let them cross his threshold. He never would speak to or look at a +woman, and would always avoid meeting them, if possible. Poor fellow, +he had a dreadful end. He was missing for several days, and at last +some of the town's-people broke into his house, and found him dead, +with his head badly burned. They supposed he was intoxicated, and +fell, striking his head upon the andiron, which stunned him; and while +he lay helpless, he was so badly burned that he soon died. And that +was the last of poor old Zigzag." + +"There was another story Uncle James used to tell, about the naming of +Barre, in Vermont; do you recollect it, mother?" inquired Mrs. Preston. + +"Yes, indeed, and I 've heard old Dr. Paddock tell it many a time. He +was there, and saw it all. The people did n't like the name of their +town, which was Wildersburgh, and determined to have a new one, and so +they met together in town-meeting, to talk the matter over. One of the +leading men came from Barre, Massachusetts, and he wanted the town to +take that name. Another prominent citizen came from Holden, +Massachusetts, and he insisted that the town should be called Holden. +The people liked both of these names well enough, and it was finally +determined that the question should be decided by a game of boxing, +between these two men. So the meeting adjourned to a new barn, with a +rough hemlock plank floor, and the contest commenced. After boxing +awhile, one of them threw the other upon the floor, and sprang upon him +at full length; but the one who was underneath dealt his blows so +skilfully, that his opponent soon gave in; and rolling the Holden man +out of the way, he jumped up and shouted, 'There, the name is Barre!' +and Barre it hasten, to this day. The next day, the man who won this +victory had to call on the doctor to extract from his back the hemlock +splinters he had received while struggling on the barn floor." + +Thus the evening was beguiled with stories, mingled with a few songs by +Alice and Ella, and a few favorite airs upon the piano-forte. Before +the hour of retiring arrived, even Oscar was quite reconciled to the +loss of the evening's entertainment away from home which he had +promised himself. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +GRANDMOTHER LEE. + +Mrs. Lee, the grandmother of the Preston children, remained with the +family for several weeks, after Thanksgiving. Her visit was, on the +whole, a pleasant one, though there were some shadows thoughtlessly +cast over it by the children. Age had somewhat impaired her sense of +hearing, but yet she always wanted to understand everything that was +said in her presence. Often, when the children were talking to each +other in a low tone, she would ask them what they were saying. Ella +did not like these interruptions, and was the first to complain of them. + +"O dear," said she, one day, "I do wonder what makes grandmother so +inquisitive. I really believe she thinks we are talking about her all +the time. I can't open my mouth, but she wants to know what I said. +Don't you think she is getting childish, Alice?" + +"Why, Ella!" exclaimed Alice, in astonishment, "I should think you +would be ashamed to speak so of your poor old grandmother. What do you +think mother would say if she knew what you said!" + +"I can't help it," replied Ella; "I don't see why grandmother need be +so curious about every little thing that's said. I mean to ask her +some time when I have a good chance." + +"I should think you had better, Miss Impudence," said Alice; "perhaps +she would like to have you give her some lessons in good behavior." + +Alice did not for a moment suppose that her sister meant to speak to +their grandmother upon this subject. But she had miscalculated the +pertness of Ella. A day or two after this, as several of the children +were talking among themselves, the attention of the old lady was +arrested. She could not hear distinctly what they said, but Oscar took +a prominent part in the conversation; and a moment after, on his +leaving the room, she asked Ella what he wanted. + +"O, it was n't anything that you care about, grandma'am," replied Ella. + +"Is that the way your mother teaches you to answer questions, Ella?" +inquired Mrs. Lee, in a mild, reproachful tone. + +"No, no, grandmother," replied Alice, with considerable earnestness; "I +shall tell mother how impudently she spoke to you. A boy has given a +little dog to Oscar, and that was what he was telling us about, just +before he went out." + +"Why, grandmother," added Ella, "I did n't mean to be impudent; but I +'ve noticed that you always want to hear what everybody says, even when +they are not talking to you, and mother says that is n't polite." + +"I am much obliged to you, my dear," replied her grandmother, very +meekly; "after I have taken a few more lessons from you, perhaps I +shall know how to behave." + +The feelings of the old lady were more hurt by the rudeness of Ella, +than her mild rebukes indicated. Alice felt bound to inform her mother +of what had taken place; and Mrs. Preston was greatly mortified, on +learning that her little daughter had spoken so impudently to her aged +mother. She apologized for Ella, as well as she could, by saying that +she was naturally forward and impulsive. At noon, when the children +returned from school, she called Ella into a room by herself, and +talked with her about her conduct. At first, Ella tried to justify +herself; but after awhile her better nature triumphed, and she felt +heartily ashamed of her treatment of her grandmother. To think that +she, a girl eleven years old, should have attempted to teach her aged +grandmother politeness, and in such an uncivil way, too! No wonder she +hung her head in shame. + +To be candid, perhaps Ella's grandmother was a little too inquisitive +to know what was going on around her. But this was one of the +infirmities of old age which were slowly stealing upon her, and which +the young should regard with pity and forbearance, but never with a +censorious spirit. + +Ella was really a good-hearted girl, when her generous feelings were +aroused. From that day, she treated her grandmother with marked +kindness and respect; and her unfortunate attempt to rebuke the +venerable woman was never alluded to again. + +Among the articles which Mrs. Lee brought from the country, for the +children, was a small bag of corn for popping. One evening, George +happened to think of this corn, which none of them had yet tried; and +partly filling one of his pockets from the bag, he slipped quietly into +the kitchen, and commenced popping it by Bridget's fire. There was no +person in the kitchen but himself, and putting a handfull of corn in +the wire popper, it soon began to snap and jump about, the hard, yellow +kernels bursting forth into light and beautiful milk-white balls. But +by-and-bye the savory odor of the corn found its way up stairs, and +Ella and Ralph ran down to get their share of the treat. George had +put the corn upon the table to cool, as fast as it was popped; but when +he heard footsteps approaching, he scrambled it into his pocket as +quick as possible. + +"Halloo, popped corn! Give me some, Georgie, won't you?" said Ralph. + +"And me, too," added Ella. + +"No I shan't, either," said George; "I popped it for myself." + +"You're real stingy," replied Ella; "but no matter, Ralph and I will +pop some for ourselves. Where is the bag?" + +"You must find it for yourselves--I had to," was George's selfish +reply, as he gathered the last of his popped corn into his pocket, +badly burning his fingers, in his anxiety lest his brother or sister +should get hold of a kernel or two. + +Ella and Ralph commenced searching for the bag of corn, but they could +not find it. They looked in every place where they supposed it might +be, but in vain. Their mother had gone to bed with a sick headache, or +they would have ascertained where it was from her. At length they gave +up the search, and returned to the sitting-room, in no very pleasant +frame of mind. + +"I do declare, George," said Ella, "you are the meanest boy I ever +heard of." + +"Why, what is the matter with George?" inquired his grandmother. + +"He 's been popping some of the corn you gave us," replied Ella; "and +he won't give us a kernel of it, nor tell us where the bag is, so that +we can pop some for ourselves." + +"Why, George," said Mrs. Lee, "that is too bad; I would tell them where +the corn is, for I intended it as much for them as for you." + +"I don't care," said George; "they've called me mean and stingy, and +now they may find it for themselves." + +"We did n't call you mean and stingy till you refused to tell us where +it was," added Ella. + +"If I could find it, I guess you would n't get another kernel of it," +said Ralph, addressing George; "I'd burn it all up first." + +"No, no, Ralph, that is wrong," replied his grandmother. "The corn is +n't worth quarrelling about. If George wants to be selfish, and keep +it all to himself, I 'll send down some more for the rest of you, when +I go home. But I guess Georgie does n't mean to be selfish," she +added, coaxingly; "he only wants to plague you a little, that's all. +He 'll tell you where he found the corn, pretty soon." + +George, who was growing uneasy under this combined attack, now +retreated to bed, leaving his grandmother more astonished than ever at +his obstinacy. + +"There," said Alice, "it's of no use to try to drive or coax him out of +his selfishness. Mother says he 'll outgrow it by-and-bye, but I don't +see as there is any prospect of it. You know what made him so selfish, +don't you, grandmother?" + +"I am afraid he has been humored too much," replied Mrs. Lee. + +"Well, he has been," added Alice; "but you know when he was little, he +was very sick for a whole year, and the doctor said he must n't be +crossed any more than we could help, for crying and fretting were very +bad for him. So he had his own way in everything, and if we children +had anything he wanted, we had to give it to him, and let him break it +to pieces, for he would scream as loud as he could, if we refused him. +This was the way he got to be so selfish; and now he thinks we must +humor him just as we did when he was sick." + +"There is some little excuse for him, if he fell into the habit when he +was very young and sick," observed Mrs. Lee; "but he is old enough and +well enough now to know better, and ought to be broken of the fault." + +"Father and mother have tried to break him of it," replied Alice, "but +they have not succeeded very well yet. They have talked to him a good +deal about it, but it does no good." + +The next day, the children found the bag of corn, and their mother told +George she should punish him for his selfishness by not letting him +have any more of it. The corn was accordingly divided among the other +children, and thus George, in trying to get more than his share, +actually got less than the others did. + +It was about this time that Oscar came into possession of the pup which +Alfred Walton had promised him two or three weeks before. He at first +had some difficulty in obtaining the consent of his mother to bring it +home. She thought it would be troublesome, and tried to dissuade him +from taking it; but Oscar's heart was so strongly set upon the dog, +that she at length reluctantly assented to its being admitted as an +inmate of the family. + +Fastening a string to the neck of the dog, Oscar led him to his new +home, where he received every attention from the younger members of the +family. Quite a grave discussion at once ensued, as to what the name +of the new-comer should be. Each of the children had a favorite name +to propose, but Oscar rejected them all, and said the dog should be +called "Tiger;" and so that became his name, but it was usually +abbreviated to "Tige." + +[Illustration: Tiger's Countenance.] + +Tiger had grown very rapidly, and was now about twice as large as he +was when Alfred promised Oscar one of his litter of pups. He was a +handsome fellow, especially about the head, as you may see by his +portrait. At times, he looked as old and grave as his mother; but for +all that, he was a great rogue, and there was very little dignity or +soberness about him. He was brim-full of fun, and would play with +anybody or anything that would allow him to take that liberty. He +would amuse himself for hours with an old shoe or rag that he had found +in the street, and it seemed as if he never would get tired of shaking, +and tearing, and biting it. This disposition sometimes led him into +mischief, in the house; but he was always so happy, so good-natured and +so affectionate, that it was difficult to blame him very hard for his +misconduct. If Oscar's grandmother happened to drop her ball of yarn, +when Tige was about, he would seize it in an instant, and she would +have to work hard to get it away from him. She kept her work in a bag, +which she usually hung upon the back of a chair; but one day, the +little rogue pulled the bag down upon the floor, and had its various +contents scattered all about the room, before the old lady noticed what +he was doing. + +These mischievous pranks were very amusing to Oscar, and he set all the +more by Tiger, on account of this trait in his character. The other +members of the family, too, seemed to enjoy the sport he made; and it +was easy to see that even old Mrs. Lee, though she pretended to be +angry with the dog for his mischievousness, was in reality pleased with +the attentions he bestowed upon her and her knitting-work. + +Oscar's grandmother usually retired to her chamber, soon after dinner, +to take a short nap. One noon, after she had been scolding, with +assumed gravity, about the dog's mischievousness, Oscar thought he +would play a joke upon the old lady; so, on rising from the +dinner-table, he carried Tiger up to her bed-room, and shut him in. He +wanted to conceal himself somewhere, and witness the surprise of his +grandmother, when she should open the door, and the dog should spring +upon her; but it was time to go to school, and he could not wait. + +It so happened that Mrs. Lee did not take her nap so early as usual +that day. When she did go to her chamber, Tiger, impatient of his long +confinement, sprang out so quickly, that she did not observe him. But +such a scene as met her gaze on entering the chamber! The first thing +that caught her eye, was her best black bonnet lying upon the floor, +all crumpled up and torn into shreds, looking as though it had been +used for a football by a parcel of boys. She entered the room, and +found a dress upon the floor, with numerous marks of rough handling +upon it; while towels and other articles were scattered about in +confusion. The cloth upon the dressing-table had been pulled off, and +the articles that were kept upon it were lying upon the floor, +including a handsome vase, which, in the fall, had been shattered to +pieces. There was in the chamber a stuffed easy-chair, the covering of +which was of worsted-work, wrought by Mrs. Preston when she was a young +girl. This chair, which was highly valued as a relic of the past, was +also badly injured. A part of the needle-work, which had cost so many +hours of patient toil, was torn in every direction, and some of the +hair, with which the cushion was stuffed, was pulled out, and scattered +about the floor. + +As soon as Mrs. Lee had fully comprehended the extent of the mischief, +she went to the stair-way, and called her daughter. A glance satisfied +Mrs. Preston that Tiger must have been there; and she was confirmed in +this belief by Bridget, who remembered that the dog came down into the +kitchen, just after Mrs. Lee went up. But they could not tell how the +little rogue got shut into the room. They concluded, however, that +some of the children did it by accident, or that the dog slipped in +unperceived when Mrs. Lee came out from the chamber before dinner. + +Oscar did not go directly home from school, but as soon as he entered +the house, he learned what Tiger had done, from the other children. He +felt sorry that what he intended as a harmless joke, should end in so +serious a matter; but he determined that no one should know he had a +hand in it, if he could prevent it. He regretted the destruction of +property, but this feeling did not cause him so much uneasiness as his +fear of losing his dog in consequence of this bad afternoon's work. +His mother, as soon as she saw him, inquired if he had been to his +grandmother's chamber that noon. He replied that he had not. She +inquired if he let Tiger into it, and he answered in the negative. His +mother questioned him still further, but he denied all knowledge of the +matter. + +It was not very hard work for Oscar to tell a lie, now, for practice +makes easy. He could do it, too, in such a plausible and seemingly +innocent way, that it was difficult to believe he was deceiving you. +His falsehoods, in this instance, were readily believed; and as all the +other children denied having any knowledge of the affair, it was the +general conclusion that Tiger must have obtained admittance to the +chamber accidentally and unperceived. + +When Mr. Preston came home to tea, and saw what the dog had done, he +was very angry with poor Tiger, and told Oscar he must sell him or give +him away, for he would not have such a mischievous animal about the +house another day. A day or two after, Mrs. Preston replaced the +articles belonging to her mother that had been injured, and the +excitement about the dog soon died away. Oscar did not try to get rid +of his pet; but he was careful not to let him stay in the house much of +the time especially when his father was at home. + +"Oscar," said his grandmother a day or two after as he came into the +kitchen with Tiger, "I thought your father told you he would n't have +that dog around here any more." + +"O, he did n't mean so," replied Oscar; "he was mad when he said that, +but he 's got over it now. Besides, I don't let Tige stay in the house +much." + +"A good dale ye cares for what yer father says," remarked Bridget, who +was never backward about putting in a word, when Oscar's delinquencies +were the subject of conversation. + +"You shut up, Bridget,--nobody spoke to you," replied Oscar. + +"Shet up, did ye say? Faith, if ye don't git shet up yerself where ye +won't git out in a hurry, afore ye 're many years older, it 'll be +because ye don't git yer desarts. Ye 're a bad b'y, that ye are, an'--" + +"There, there, Biddy," interrupted Mrs. Lee, "I would n't say anything +more--it only aggravates him, and does no good. But, Oscar," she +added, "I 'm sorry you don't pay more attention to what your father +says. It's a bad habit to get into. I knew a disobedient boy, once, +who came to the gallows; and I 've known several others who made very +bad men." + +"But you don't call me disobedient, do you, grandma'am?" inquired Oscar. + +"I don't know what else to call it," she replied, "if your father tells +you to do a thing, and you take no notice of it." + +"But father does n't want me to give Tige away--I don't believe he 's +thought of it again since that night." + +"Then, if I were you," replied his grandmother, "I would ask his +consent to keep the dog. If he did n't mean what he said, that night, +you will be safe enough in asking him." + +But this was a kind of reasoning that Oscar could not appreciate. If +he could carry his point just as well without his father's formal +consent, he thought it was useless to ask any such favor. As long as +he could keep his dog, it was all the same to him whether his father +withdrew his command, or silently acquiesced in his disobedience of it. + +But grandmother Lee's visit was drawing to a close, and early one +bright, cool morning, in the latter part of December, the coach called, +to take her to the railroad depôt; and after a few kisses, and words of +affectionate advice, and lingering good-byes, she departed on her +homeward journey. Of those she left behind, next to her own daughter, +the saddest of the group was little Ella, who, for many days, missed +the pleasant face of her good old grandmother. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WINTER SPORTS. + +It was now mid-winter, and a few inches of snow lay upon the frozen +ground, sufficient to make pretty fair sleighing for a few days, and to +afford good coasting for the boys on the hill-sides. The favorite +place for this amusement, among the boys in Oscar's neighborhood, was +the Common. Here they always found good, long, smooth coasting-places, +when there was any snow on the ground; and there was no danger of +tripping up foot passengers, or getting under the heels of the horses, +or being tapped on the shoulder by a policeman, which often happened to +boys who coasted down the steep streets of the city,--a practice, by +the way, prohibited by a city law. + +Oscar had a handsome new sled, which was a new year's present from his +father. It was long and narrow, the two steel-shod runners projecting +forward far beyond the top or seat, and ending in sharp points. It was +painted light blue, and varnished. Upon the sides, in gilt letters, +was its name--CLIPPER; and upon its top it bore the initial of Oscar's +name, with an ornamental device. It had what a sailor would call a +decidedly rakish look, and was really a fast as well as a stylish +"team," to use the term by which Oscar usually spoke of it. It even +eclipsed George's small but elegant sled, which, the winter previous, +had been regarded as the _ne plus ultra_ of sled architecture. + +Ralph's sled, by the side of these, presented a very cheap and +antiquated appearance, and it was seldom that he took it with him to +the Common. He often borrowed Oscar's, however, when it was not in use +for his elder brother, with all his faults, was not selfish boy, but +was willing to lend his property to others, when he was not using it +himself. One pleasant Wednesday afternoon, a portion of the week +always devoted to recreation by the Boston school children, Ralph +obtained leave to take the "Clipper" with him to the Common. George +also went with him with his sled. The coasting is very good, and some +hundreds of boys are enjoying it. Long lines of sleds, freighted with +from one to three or four juveniles, are dashing down in various +directions from the Beacon Street mall; and an odd collection of +juveniles and sleds it is, too. There comes a chubby, red-faced lad, +with his exact counterpart, on a smaller scale, clinging on behind him +with one hand, and swinging his cap with the other. Their sled is +called the "Post-Boy," and it seems to "carry the males" very +expeditiously. Close at their heels is a pale, poetic youth, lightly +skimming over the inclined plane upon a delicate craft that looks like +himself, and which he calls the "Mystery." Here comes a rude, +unpainted sled, with two rough but merry youngsters lying prone upon +it, one over the other, and their heels working up and down in the air +in a most lively manner. Anon goes by an aristocratic-looking craft, +bearing upon it a sleek and well-dressed boy, whose appearance speaks +of wealth, indulgence, and ease. His sled is appropriately named the +"Pet;" but in gliding down the icy track it strikes a tree, and its +pampered owner is sent sprawling upon his back, in a very undignified +way, while his "Pet" gives him the slip and soon finds the bottom of +the hill. Poor fellow! we wonder if this is an omen of what is to +befall him in sliding down the hill of life. And here comes the +"Clipper" itself, with our Ralph seated proudly upon it, and apparently +enjoying the fleet and beautiful sled as much as though it were really +his own. And there, too, comes George, with his pretty "Snow Flake;" +and close behind him are the "Tempest," and the "Yankee Doodle," and +the "Screamer," and the "Snow ball," and the "Nelly," and the "Racer," +and a host of other craft, of every imaginable appearance, and strided +by all sorts of boys. + +Ralph and George spent an hour or two upon the Common. Nothing +occurred to mar their pleasure till just before they started for home, +when Ralph met with an adventure that sadly ruffled his temper. He was +descending the hill upon his sled, when another craft, having two boys +upon it larger than himself, managed to run into him. The "Clipper" +being lightly loaded, the other sled descended with greater impetus; +and the force of the collision, together with a vigorous kick from the +stout boots of one of the boys, overturned Ralph upon the steepest part +of the hill. He quickly picked himself up, and, forgetful of self, his +first care was to see whether Oscar's sled had sustained any damage. +When he beheld the marks of the rough encounter, in the form of sundry +ugly scratches upon the polished sides of the "Clipper," the tears came +in his eyes; and it was some time before he noticed that he himself +bore upon his hands and knees several unmistakable tokens of the +collision. + +Ralph knew very well that the collision was not accidental. The kick +of the boy who guided the sled, and the hearty laugh of both its +occupants, when Ralph was overturned, satisfied him that he had been +run down purposely. He did not know the names of the boys, having only +met them occasionally on the Common. They soon came along again, on +their way up the hill, and Ralph asked the owner of the sled why he run +him down. + +"Because you got in our way," replied the boy. + +"No, I did n't," said Ralph; "there was room enough for you to go by, +but you steered out of your course, and gave my sled a kick, too." + +"Don't you tell me I lie, you little snipper-snapper," answered the boy +"or I 'll put you in my pocket, and carry you off." + +"See what you did," continued Ralph, pointing to the scratches on the +"Clipper;" "I should n't care anything about it, but the sled is n't +mine. I borrowed it of my brother, and it had n't a scratch on it when +I took it." + +"Pooh," said the other boy, "that does n't hurt it any. I 'll be bound +it will be scratched worse than that, before the winter 's over. If +you get in my way with it again, I shall serve it worse than I did this +time." + +The boys passed on their way, and Ralph and George, whose "fun" had +been thus suddenly and unjustly spoiled by their insolent and +domineering companions, concluded to return home. Poor Ralph dreaded +to meet Oscar; but yet he hunted him up, as soon as he got home, and +told him what had befallen the beautiful sled. Oscar was very angry +when he heard the story, but he generously acquitted his brother of all +blame in the matter, and declared that he would pay back the boy who +had thus taken advantage of his weakness. He knew the offender, from +Ralph's description, and from the name of his sled, which was the +"Corsair." He even proposed to go directly to the Common, and settle +the account at once; but Ralph, in whose heart revenge held a very +small place, persuaded him out of the notion. + +But Oscar, unlike Ralph, was not the boy to forget or forgive an +injury. A day or two after the occurrence just related, while coasting +on the Common, he fell in with the boy who run into his brother. +Keeping his eye upon him until he could catch him a little aside from +the other boys, when the favorable moment came, he suddenly dealt him a +severe blow, which nearly knocked him over, accompanying it with the +remark: + +"There, take that for running down my little brother, when he was +coasting with my sled, the other day." + +The other boy, without saying a word, sprang at Oscar, and, for a +moment or two, blows and kicks were freely exchanged. But though they +were about of a size, it was evident that Oscar was the stronger or +most resolute of the two, and his antagonist soon gave up the contest, +but not until he had been pretty roughly handled. Other boys soon came +flocking around, to whom Oscar explained the cause of the assault; but +his antagonist denied all knowledge of the affair for which Oscar had +attacked him. An angry war of words ensued, but the excitement finally +subsided without any further resort to blows, and Oscar returned home, +well pleased with his adventure. + +One of Oscar's favorite winter amusements was skating. Early in +winter, as soon as the little pond on the Common was frozen over, he +might be seen gliding over the smooth ice; but later in the season, +when there was good skating on "Back Bay," he preferred that locality, +because of its greater extent. Tiger usually accompanied him in his +skating excursions, and seemed to enjoy the sport as much as his master +did. It was amusing to see him try to make a short turn, in running +upon the ice. He would slide some distance before he could change his +course. Oscar would often plague him, when he was in full chase after +his master, by suddenly turning upon his skates, and taking a contrary +direction, leaving Tiger to get back as he could. + +But an event happened, one day, that almost wholly cured Tiger of his +fondness for this kind of sport. He was gaily tripping over the ice, +by the side of his young master, when the latter suddenly turned about, +and Tiger, in his haste to follow him, slid directly into an air-hole. +This was probably the first time he had enjoyed so extensive a cold +bath; and as he was not a water-dog, it is not surprising that he was +terribly frightened. His piteous cries brought Oscar to his relief, +who could not help laughing at the sorry plight in which he found his +half-drowned canine friend. He was floundering and paddling about in +the water, now lifting himself almost out, upon the edge of the ice, +and now slipping off again, and plumping over-head in the uncomfortable +element; his intelligent countenance, in the meantime, wearing the +impress of despair. But Oscar soon helped him from his disagreeable +position. Finding himself on his legs again, he did not resume his +sport; but, shivering with cold, and dripping with water, almost at the +freezing point, and with his head hanging downward, and his tail +drooping between his legs, he started towards home--a wiser and a +sadder dog. + +When Oscar got home, he found the family some what alarmed for his own +safety. Tiger had arrived some time before, and as it was evident that +he had been overboard, and as he was known to have gone off with his +master, Mrs. Preston felt some anxiety, not knowing but that both Oscar +and the dog had broken through the ice. But his arrival dispelled all +fears, and his account of Tiger's misfortune served to amuse the +children for the rest of the day. As for Tiger himself, he seemed +heartily ashamed of the part he had played, and could hardly be +persuaded to leave the chimney-corner for a moment, or even to look up, +when the children inquired for his health. + +"I don't see what good air-holes do. I wonder if anybody knows what +they are for," exclaimed Ralph, as the children and their mother were +seated around the sitting-room table in the evening. + +"They are traps set to catch skaters, I suppose," said Oscar. + +"And dogs," added Ella. + +"But don't you know what they are for, Alice?" continued Ralph. + +"Yes," replied Alice, who had studied natural philosophy at school, +"they are the breathing holes of the fishes. Fishes can't live without +air, any better than we can; and a pond or river frozen over solid, +without any air-holes, would be as bad for them as a room from which +all fresh air was shut out would be to us. You can sometimes catch +fish very easily by cutting a hole in the ice, for if they feel the +need of air, they will rush right up to the opening." + +"But how are the air-holes made?" inquired Ralph. + +"I believe," replied Alice, "that they are generally made by springs +that bubble up from the bottom. These springs come from the earth, and +the water is so warm that it gradually thaws the ice over them. The +fish often finish the process by jumping up through the ice before it +has entirely melted. When the cold is very intense, and these springs +have frozen up, some of the water is absorbed by the earth, which +leaves a vacuum or empty space between the ice and the water; and then +the ice gives way under the weight of the atmosphere, and air is +admitted into the water beneath." + +"Well, I 'm glad air-holes are good for something," said Oscar; "they +'re troublesome enough to skaters. Jim Anderson skated right into one +the other day, and came pretty near getting drowned. But I always keep +my eyes open for them. I never got into one yet." + +"You cannot be too careful when you are on the ice," remarked Mrs. +Preston. "I felt so uneasy, that I was just going to send Ralph in +search of you, when you got home." + +After that day it required considerable coaxing to induce Tiger to go +upon the boys' skating-ground. He manifested a decided preference to +remain upon the shore, and look on; and when he did venture to +accompany his master, he kept close by his side, and travelled over the +treacherous ice with a degree of circumspection, which said very +plainly, "You won't catch me in that scrape again, master Oscar!" + +But there was nothing that the boys enjoyed more at this season of the +year, than a real good snowstorm. Such a storm they were favored with +during this month. It came on in the evening, and the next morning, +when they arose, their basement windows were more than half buried up +in snow, and the drifts, in some places, were higher than Oscar's head. +The streets were deserted and almost impassable. Thick crusts of snow +hung over the roofs of the long blocks of houses; while the blinds, +windows, doors and balustrades were heavily trimmed with the same +delicate material. The huge banks which stretched themselves along the +street and sidewalk, were as yet undisturbed; for the few passers-by +had been glad to pick their way through the valleys. The wind roared +and piped among the chimneys and house-tops, and whisked through narrow +passage-ways, and whistled through the smallest cracks and crevices, in +its merriest and busiest mood. Now it would scoop up a cloud of snow +from the street, and bear it up far above the house-tops, and then it +would repay the debt by gathering a fleecy wreath from some neighboring +roof, and sweeping it into the street beneath. The storm still +continued with unabated severity, and the air was so full of snow, that +one could hardly see the length of the street. + +After a hasty breakfast, the boys tucked the bottoms of their trowsers +into their boots, and sallied forth, to explore the half-buried +streets. And now the light snow-balls began to fly thick and fast, and +every few moments, one and another would measure his full length in +some deep drift, which for a moment almost buried him from sight. +Tiger, who accompanied them, entered fully into the sport, and very +good-naturedly received his share of the snowballs and snow-baths. But +their exercise was too violent to be continued a great while. They +soon returned home, coated with snow from head to heel, and the cheeks +of the boys glowing with health and enjoyment. + +"After you get rested, Oscar," said Mr. Preston, who was just leaving +for the store, "I want you to shovel a path in front of the house." + +"What is the use?" inquired Oscar. "The storm is n't over yet, and if +I make a path, it will fill right up again." + +"No it won't," replied his father. "I don't think it will storm much +longer; and the snow is so light, now, that you can shovel it easily, +but if you leave it till noon, it maybe trodden down hard. You need +not clean off the whole side-walk now; only make a comfortable +passage-way, and perhaps I will help you finish the job at night." + +Oscar still thought it would be a waste of labor to shovel a path then, +and he did not evince any haste in obeying his father's order. After +loitering about the house a long time, he took the shovel, and worked +lazily at the path for awhile. Although he only undertook to cut a +narrow passage-way through the drift in front of the house, he worked +with so little spirit, that when the time came for him to get ready for +school, he had not half completed the task. He asked permission to +stay at home and finish his path, but his mother did not think this +necessary, and refused her consent. So he went to school, and in the +meantime the storm died away, and the clouds dispersed. + +Towards noon the door-bell rang, and on Bridget going to answer it, a +little printed paper was handed to her, directing the occupant of the +house to have the snow removed from his sidewalk within a given number +of hours. After school, Oscar thought no more of his path, but went +off with Alfred Walton, and did not go home until dinner-time. He had +but little time now to shovel snow; but his father told him to be sure +and come home directly from school, in the afternoon, and not to play +or do anything else until the sidewalk was cleared off. + +Oscar accordingly went home after school, and resumed his work. He +found that the snow was trodden into such a solid icy mass, that an axe +was necessary to cut it up in some places. He was not the boy to hurt +himself with hard labor, and although he kept his shovel at work in a +leisurely way, he did not accomplish much, except the removal of a +little snow that had not got trodden down. Wearied at length with his +feeble and fruitless efforts, he returned into the house, saying to his +mother: + +"There, I can't get the snow off the sidewalk, and it's of no use to +try. It's trodden down just as hard as ice. Besides, if I should +shovel it all off, there will be an avalanche from the top of the house +to-night, that will bury the sidewalk all up again. The snow is +sliding off the roofs, all around here;--have n't you heard it, mother?" + +"Yes, I thought I heard it," replied Mrs. Preston; "but if you can't +get the snow off the sidewalk, you had better speak to your father +about it, when he comes home, and perhaps he will help you, or hire +somebody to do it for you. It must be got off as soon as possible, for +the police have notified us to attend to it." + +In spite of this advice, Oscar neglected to speak to his father in +regard to the matter, and no one else happening to think of it, nothing +was said about it. The next morning, he chopped away upon the ice a +little while, but getting tired of it, he soon abandoned the job, and +went to play. When Mr. Preston came home to dinner, an unusual cloud +was on his brow; and as soon as Oscar came in, the cause was explained. + +"Oscar," he said, "why did you not shovel the snow from the sidewalk, +as I told you to, yesterday morning?" + +"I tried to," replied Oscar; "but it was trodden down so hard, I could +n't get it off." + +"But you should have done it before it got hardened. I told you to +clear a passage-way, yesterday morning. That would have saved the rest +from getting trod down, and at noon you could have finished the job. +Why did you not do as I told you to?" + +"I did begin to make a path," replied Oscar; "but I did n't have time +to finish it, and when I got home from school, the snow was all trodden +down hard." + +"Did n't have time?" said his father; "what do you tell me such a story +as that for? You could have made all the path that was necessary in +fifteen or twenty minutes, if you had been disposed to do it. By +neglecting to obey me, you have got me into a pretty scrape. I have +had to go before the Police Court, this forenoon, and pay a fine and +costs, amounting to over five dollars, for your negligence and +disobedience. And now," he added, "you may try once more, and see if +you can do as I tell you to. As soon at you have done dinner, take the +hatchet and shovel, and go to work upon the sidewalk; and don't you +leave it until the ice is all cleared off. As sure as you do, I will +dust your jacket for you when I come home to-night, so that you will +not forget it for one while." + +Oscar thought it best to obey his father this time. It being Saturday, +school did not keep, in the afternoon, and he had ample time to +complete the task, although it was time which he intended to spend in a +different way. Ralph, however, volunteered his assistance, and before +the middle of the afternoon, the task was finished. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +APPEARANCES. + +Those who impose upon the weak, sometimes get punished for their +meanness in an unexpected manner. This truth was very effectually +impressed upon Oscar, one March morning, as he was going to school. +The streets were in a very bad condition, being several inches deep +with a compound of snow, water, and mud, familiarly known as "slosh." +Just before reaching the school-house, he overtook two little boys with +a sled, and throwing himself upon it, he compelled them to drag him +along. It was hard sledding, and the boys naturally objected to +drawing such a heavy load; but Oscar kept his seat, and compelled them +to go on. For a few minutes, he rode along very quietly, although his +span of youngsters, who were continually muttering to themselves, did +not seem to enjoy the sport as well as he did. But, by a dexterous +movement, they soon balanced the debtor and creditor account. Giving +the sled a sudden jerk and lurch, in one of the sloppiest places they +had met with, their lazy passenger was thrown backward into the mud, +and imprinted a full length picture of himself in the yielding +material. The incident happened almost in front of the school-house, +and as Oscar rose from the mud, he was greeted by the shouts and +laughter of a hundred boys who witnessed the scene. Several men, also, +who were passing at the time, joined in the laughing chorus; and one, +who had observed the whole affair from the beginning, told Oscar the +boys had served him just right. + +[Illustration: The Overturn.] + +Ralph came to the relief of his brother, and having wiped off as much +of the mud and water from his back as he could, with a handkerchief, +Oscar started for home, wet to his skin. He was keenly sensitive to +any mortification of this kind, and it was a bitter pill for him to +appear in the crowded streets in such a plight. He imagined everybody +he met or overtook was staring at him, and laughing at the figure he +cut, and he wanted to hide his face from their sight. He never went +home from school so fast before; but when he had changed his dress, and +washed the dirt from his hands and face, it was too late to return. In +the afternoon, when he made his appearance at school, he was quite +generally greeted with the significant nickname of "Stick-in-the-mud," +and had to stand a most remorseless fire of wit, pleasantry, and +ridicule the rest of the day, both at home and in the street. + +Oscar thought quite as much as was proper of outward appearances. He +was commendably neat in his personal habits, and was seldom caught with +dirty hands and face, or uncombed hair, or soiled and ragged dress. He +loved to dress well, too, and no amount of persuasion could induce him +to wear a garment, if he fancied it did not set right, or was much out +of fashion, or had an old and patched-up look. In such a case, nothing +but the stern arm of authority was sufficient to overcome his +prejudices. + +"There," said his mother one evening, after spending some time over one +of his jackets, which had become a little worn at the elbows; "there, +that will last you a spell longer, and look almost as well as it ever +did, too." + +Oscar examined the garment. It was neatly mended, and looked very +well; but his eye rested upon a slight patch upon one of the elbows, +which entirely spoilt it for him, although it had previously been a +favorite garment. + +"It's too small for me," he said; "why can't you keep it for Ralph?" + +"No, you needn't keep it for Ralph," quickly replied the owner of that +name; "I haven't had anything but your old clothes to wear for a year +or two, and I should think it was my turn to have some of the new ones, +now. Make him wear that out, mother, won't you?" + +"Yes, I intend he shall wear it awhile longer," replied Mrs. Preston. +"It looks well enough for any body." + +"But see that detestable patch," said Oscar; "I don't want to wear +_that_ to school; folks will think I have borrowed one of Ben. Wright's +old jackets." + +Ben Wright was one of Oscar's schoolmates. He was the son of a poor +widow, and was the most be-patched boy in Oscar's class, at the head of +which he stood. As he had nothing to recommend him but fine +scholarship, exemplary deportment, and a good character, in school and +out, he was a boy of little consequence in the eyes of Oscar. + +"I wish you were _worthy_ to wear one of Benny's old jackets," replied +Mrs. Preston. "If you were half as good a boy as he is, I would not +complain. But you need not be afraid that anybody will mistake you for +him, even if you _do_ wear a patched garment." + +"I believe you think Ben. Wright is a little angel," said Oscar, who +never liked to hear his humble but diligent classmate praised. + +"I think he has some traits that you would do well to imitate," replied +his mother. + +"I shall think I am imitating him, when I get that thing on," added +Oscar, in a contemptuous manner, alluding to the jacket. + +"There, that will do, Oscar," replied Mrs. Preston, "You've said enough +about the jacket; don't let me hear another word of complaint. I took +a great deal of pains to mend it neatly, and it looks well enough for +you or any other boy. You may put it on to-morrow morning, and don't +you leave off wearing it till I tell you to." + +Oscar nodded his head in a way that seemed to say, "You 'll see how +long I wear it;" but his mother did not observe the motion. He had a +short and easy way of getting rid of garments that he disliked. +Somehow other they were sure to waste away in a much faster manner than +those he had a fancy for; or, perhaps they would be rendered suddenly +useless, by some mysterious accident. But he would never admit that +their period of usefulness had been purposely shortened, though +suspicions of this kind were occasionally hinted. + +Soon after this, Mr. Preston entered the room, and took a seat by the +fire He pulled out his watch to wind it up, as was his custom just +before bed-time, when Oscar said: + +"Father, I wish you would buy me a watch. Frank King, and Bill +Andrews, and Charlie Grant, and almost all the large boys that I know, +have got watches, and I should think I might have one too; why can't I, +father?" + +"What do they do with watches?" inquired Mr. Preston. + +"Why, what does anybody do with them? They carry them to tell the time +of day, of course," replied Oscar. + +"And to make a display of watch-chain," added his father. + +"No, that isn't it," replied Oscar; "but it's convenient to have a +watch with you. You don't know how I 'm plagued to tell what time it +is, sometimes. It would make me a good deal more punctual, if I had +one. I was late to school this morning, but it was n't my fault, for I +did n't know what time it was until I got to the school-house, and +found that the boys had all gone in." + +"When I was of your age," said Mr. Preston, "boys never thought of +carrying watches, and yet they were taught to be as punctual as the +clock, in their attendance at school. If I had been tardy, and tried +to excuse myself by saying that I had no watch, I should have got +laughed at by the whole school. But where were you this morning, that +you did not know when it was school-time?" + +"Over to Alf. Walton's." + +"And couldn't find a time-piece about the premises?" + +"Why--no--I--forgot--" replied Oscar, somewhat embarrassed by the +question. + +"Just as I supposed," added his father; "you got along with that boy, +and forgot all about your school; and it would have been just the same, +if you 'd had half a dozen watches in your pocket." + +"O no, father," said Oscar; "for if I 'd had a watch about me, I should +have looked at it." + +"Well," added Mr. Preston, "if you don't care enough about punctuality +to take a little trouble to ascertain what time it is, when you have an +engagement, I don't think a watch would help you any in acquiring the +habit. You have n't made out a very strong case." + +"No," remarked Mrs. Preston, "he wants a watch for show, and not +punctuality,--that's plain enough. He has just been making a great +fuss because I put a little bit of a patch on the elbow of his jacket. +He is getting to be quite fastidious, for a gentleman of his size." + +"If you would think a little less of outside appearances, Oscar," +continued his father, "and a little more of inward character, your +judgment of men and things would not be quite so much at fault as it is +now. If you judge of boys or men by the cloth and watches they wear, +and select your companions accordingly, you will soon find that you +have got a pretty set of friends. And so, too, if you think you can +secure the good opinion and respect of the world, merely by dressing +well, you are greatly mistaken. You must learn to judge people by +their characters, and not by their dress or appearance. If I could see +you trying to form a good character, I should care very little what +sort of garments you wore. I would buy you a watch, or anything else +in my power, if it would only make you behave better. In fact, I will +make you a handsome offer now, if you wish." + +"Well, what is it?" inquired Oscar. + +"I will agree to give you a nice watch, in six months from this time, +if you will do three things," continued his father. + +"What are they?" inquired Oscar; "are they things that I can do?" + +"Certainly," said Mr. Preston; "you can do them if you will only try. +The first is, that you render prompt obedience to your parents, during +these six months. Is n't that within your power?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar, somewhat reluctantly. + +"The second is," continued Mr. Preston, "that you behave toward your +playmates and all other people in such a way, that no serious complaint +shall be made against you. Can you do that, if you try?" + +"Yes, sir, I guess so," replied Oscar. + +"And the last condition is, that you give sufficient attention to your +studies to gain admission to the High School, at the end of the term. +Is that in your power?" + +"I suppose it is," said Oscar. + +"You admit, then, that you _can_ keep these conditions," continued his +father; "the question now is, _will_ you do it?" + +That was a hard question for Oscar to answer. He hesitated, and +twisted about in his chair, and at length replied: + +"Why, I don't suppose I should make out, if I tried." + +"No, you certainly would not, if that is your spirit," replied his +father. "You cannot accomplish anything unless you have some +confidence that you can do it, and firmly resolve to try. You just +admitted that you could keep these conditions, but it seems you are not +willing to make the attempt. You want a watch, but you don't intend to +obey your parents, or to conduct yourself properly, or to attend to +your lessons, for the sake of getting it--that's what you mean to say, +is it not?" + +Oscar remained silent. + +"I am sorry," continued his father, "that you will not take up with my +offer; for though I do not think it important that you should get the +watch, it is important that you should reform some of your habits. You +are getting to be altogether too wayward and headstrong, as well as +vain." + +"If I get into the High School next summer, may I have the watch?" +inquired Oscar. + +"No," replied his father, "not unless you comply with the other +conditions. But I want you to remember what I told you the other day, +that if you don't get into the High School at that time, I shall send +you to some boarding-school away from home, where you will be made to +study, and to behave yourself too. If strict discipline can do +anything for you, you shall have the benefit of it, you may depend upon +that." + +Oscar was now two-thirds of the way through his last year in the school +he attended. His parents were anxious that he should go through the +High School course of studies, and, indeed, he had applied for +admission to that school the summer previous to this, but did not pass +the examination. There was still some doubt whether he would succeed +any better at the next examination; and in case of his failure, his +parents had decided to send him to a boarding-school in the country. +But there was nothing very alarming to him in the idea of going into +such an establishment, notwithstanding all his father said of the +strict discipline to which he would be subjected. There would be a +novelty about it, he imagined, that would make it quite pleasant. +Consequently, he cared very little whether he was accepted as a High +School pupil or not. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE MORAL LESSON. + +Oscar had the name among his fellows of being a shrewd and sharp boy at +a bargain; and, like too many men who have acquired a similar +reputation, he was not over-scrupulous in his manner of conducting his +business operations. If he could drive a profitable trade, it mattered +little _how_ he did it; and if somebody else lost as much as he gained +by the bargain, that was not his business; every one must look out for +himself. So he reasoned, and so constantly did he act on this +principle, that, to tell the truth, his integrity was by no means +unimpeachable among his comrades. It was a very general opinion, that +in many of their boyish games, such as marbles, he would cheat if he +could get a chance; and the notion was equally prevalent, that in a +bargain, he was pretty sure to get decidedly the best end. + +Oscar was very desirous that his dog Tiger should wear a brass collar, +by way of ornament and distinction. All other respectable dogs bore +upon their necks this badge of ownership, and he thought it highly +important that Tiger should be on a good footing with his canine +friends. But how to get the collar, was the question that perplexed +him. He had asked his father to buy it, and met with a flat refusal. +He had even called at several shops, and inquired the price of the +coveted article, but it was hopelessly beyond his means. The subject +lay heavily upon his mind for several days, for when he took a notion +that he wanted a thing, it was hard to reason or drive him out of it. +His thoughts and his dreams were of brass dog-collars, and his talk +among his companions run upon the same theme. At length, while +prosecuting his inquiries, he happened to learn that a little boy who +attended his school, owned just such a collar as he wanted, and had no +dog to wear it. Here was a chance for a speculation. Oscar lost no +time in seeing this boy, and in getting his lowest price for the +collar, which was fifty cents. This was much less than the price at +the shops, and Oscar thought his father might be induced, by this fact, +to let him have the money to purchase it; but Mr. Preston did not think +Tiger needed any such appendage, and Oscar's request was again denied. + +Oscar now set his wits to work to devise a way of buying the collar, +without his father's aid. He looked over the little collection of +"goods and chattels," which he called his own, to see what there was he +could exchange for the article he wanted. His eye soon fell upon a +brass finger ring, and his plan was quickly formed. The ring had been +tumbled about among his playthings for a year or two, and was now dull +and dingy; but he remembered that he once cleaned and polished it, so +that it looked very much like gold, so long as the lustre lasted. He +subjected it to this process again, and it soon looked as well as the +plain gold ring he wore upon his finger, which it somewhat resembled in +size and color. Substituting it for the gold ring, he wore it to +school that afternoon; and a little negotiation, after school was +dismissed, settled the business--the coveted dog-collar was his! +Indeed, so craftily did he conduct the bargain, that he made the other +boy throw in a pretty ivory pocket-comb to boot! The little boy who +was thus cruelly deceived, supposed he was buying the ring that Oscar +usually wore; and, in truth, Oscar did give him to understand, in the +course of the barter, that it was fine gold, a point on which the other +boy did not appear to have much doubt. + +Oscar did not dare to tell any one what a good bargain he had made, for +fear that the other boy would hear of it. Tiger appeared with a +handsome collar around his neck the next morning; and all the +explanation any one could get from his young master was, that he +"traded for it." + +A week or two elapsed before Oscar's victim discovered the imposition +that had been practiced upon him. The ring, which had been proudly +worn, at length began to look dim and brassy; and on being submitted to +careful inspection, it was pronounced by competent authority to be not +worth one cent. The owner was of course indignant, and he went at once +to Oscar, and demanded a return of the collar and comb. But Oscar +laughed at the proposal. + +"A bargain is a bargain," said he, "and there can't be any backing out, +after it's all settled. You agreed to the trade, and now you must +stick to it." + +"But it was n't a fair bargain," said the other boy; "you told me the +ring was gold, and it is nothing but brass." + +"No, I did n't tell you it was gold," replied Oscar. "You imagined +that. And I did n't tell you it was the one I wore either,--you +imagined that too. It was my other ring that I said was gold, and I +told you it cost two dollars, and so it did. I never told you this +ring was gold,--I recollect perfectly about it." + +"Well, you know I supposed it was gold, or I would n't have traded for +it," replied the boy; "and besides, you made me think it was gold, +whether you really said it was or not." + +"That was your look-out," said Oscar. "When a man sells a thing, he is +n't obliged to run it down. You must look out for yourself when you +make a bargain--that's what I do." + +"I should think you did," replied the other; "and I guess I shall +remember your advice, if I ever trade with you again. There's your old +ring: now give me back my collar and comb," he continued, handing the +ring to Oscar. + +"I shan't do any such thing," said Oscar, and he refused to take the +ring, and turned upon his heel, leaving the other boy in no very +pleasant state of mind. + +"Then you 're a great cheat and a swindler," cried the victim, +gathering courage as Oscar retreated. + +"And you 're a little greeny," replied Oscar, with a loud laugh. + +Oscar had prepared his mind for this explosion of indignation, and +though he did not care much about it, he was glad it was over with. He +regarded the transaction which led to it as a shrewd business +operation, to be chuckled over, rather than repented of; and he had no +idea of spoiling it all, by undoing the bargain. + +In Oscar's school, it was customary for the first class (of which he +was a member) to devote the first half hour of every Monday morning to +a lesson in morals. In these lessons, the duties which we owe to God, +to ourselves, and to one another, were explained and enforced. +Although a text-book was used, the teacher did not confine himself to +it, in the recitations, but mingled oral instruction with that +contained in the printed lessons, often taking up incidents that +occurred in school, to illustrate the principle he wished to establish. + +It so happened that on the Monday morning after the occurrence just +related, the subject of the moral lesson was dishonesty. The various +forms of dishonesty,--theft, robbery, fraud, &c.,--were explained, and +the distinction between them pointed out. The teacher then proceeded +as follows: + +"A gentleman was riding in the cars, one evening, when a newsboy passed +through the train, and he purchased a paper, giving the boy by mistake +a gold eagle instead of a cent. The boy noticed the mistake, but said +nothing about it. Albert, you may tell me what you think of that boy's +conduct." + +"It was dishonest," replied Albert; "because he knew that the money did +not belong to him, and yet he kept it." + +"But did not a part of the blame belong to the man who made the +mistake?" inquired the teacher. + +Albert, after thinking a moment, replied: + +"He was to blame for his carelessness, but not for the boy's +dishonesty." + +"You are right," said the teacher. "The boy was guilty of stealing, +just as much as if he had picked the man's pocket, or broken into his +house. But suppose, instead of the mistake being to the amount of ten +dollars, it had only been a few cents,--how then?" + +"It would have been just the same," replied the boy. + +"But what if the man was very rich, and would never feel the loss, +while the boy was poor, and needed the money?" + +"That would have made no difference," replied Albert. + +"Very good," continued the teacher; "when an honest man discovers a +mistake in his own favor, he always hastens to rectify it. He will +receive only what he is entitled to. Robert," he added, addressing an +other pupil, "how is it with regard to lost articles?" + +"When we find anything that has been lost," replied the boy addressed, +"we should try to ascertain the owner, and return the article to him." + +"Is there any guilt in neglecting to do this?" + +"Yes, sir, it is a kind of dishonesty." + +"You are right," added the teacher; "the courts often punish men for +this very offence, for it is a species of theft. And how of borrowing +articles, and neglecting to return them,--is that honest?" + +"It is not," replied Robert. + +"Oscar," continued the teacher, "you may give your opinion of this +case: suppose one of your acquaintances wants a certain article +belonging to you, and by way of barter, offers you a finger-ring for +it. You take it for granted that the ring is gold, but a week or two +after the bargain is concluded, you discover that it is of brass, and +of no value what ever. The other boy knew all the while it was brass, +and also knew you supposed it was gold. What should you say of such a +transaction? Was it honest?" + +Oscar turned red, and looked confused, as this question was put to him. +It was a minute or two before he made any reply, and then he said, in a +hesitating manner: + +"If the other boy did n't _tell_ me it was gold, I don't see as he was +to blame." + +"But we will suppose there was no need of his telling you so," added +the master; "we will suppose he managed the bargain so adroitly, that +you never suspected he was not dealing fairly with you. In that case, +should you think he had acted honestly towards you?" + +"No, sir," replied Oscar, but it came out with the utmost reluctance. + +"Certainly not," said the teacher; "it is dishonest to take advantage +of another's ignorance, or simplicity, or necessity, in a bargain. +Overreaching in trade is often dignified with the name of shrewdness, +but, for all that, it is contrary to the rule of honesty. And now I +have one more question to ask you: After you have discovered how your +comrade has imposed upon you, what should you expect of him?" + +Oscar made no reply. + +"Should you not expect him to make full restitution?" + +"Yes, sir," he replied, in a scarcely audible voice. + +"Of course you would," continued the master; "and if he refused, he +would deserve double punishment." + +Several other forms of dishonesty were then considered, such as the +following;--withholding from another his just dues; contracting debts +which we know we cannot pay, or making promises we know we cannot +fulfil; wasting or injuring the property of others, &c. In concluding, +the teacher remarked, that it was not very pleasant to feel that we had +been wronged and cheated; but there was another feeling, a +thousand-fold more to be dreaded--the feeling that we have wronged and +cheated others. And so ended the moral lesson for that morning. + +The particular bearing of this lesson upon Oscar, and the pertinency of +the "case" he was called to decide upon, were not generally known to +the class, though their suspicions might have been somewhat excited by +his confusion, and his reluctance to answer the questions put to him. +The teacher had been informed of Oscar's dishonest bargain by the boy +who suffered from it, and he chose this way to impress upon him the +immorality of the transaction. He concluded, however, to give him an +opportunity to make a voluntary restitution, and so no further +reference was made to the matter. + +Oscar was wise enough to heed the warning. Before night, the brass +dog-collar and the ivory pocket-comb were returned to their rightful +owner. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SICKNESS. + +"You have got a bad cold, Oscar," said Mrs. Preston one evening towards +the close of winter, as Oscar came in from his play, and was seized +with a coughing spell. "And no wonder," she added, on glancing at his +feet; "why, do you see how wet the bottoms of your pantaloons are? I +should like to know where you have been, to get so wet--it is strange +that you will not keep out of the water." + +"I should like to know how anybody could help getting wet feet this +weather, with the slosh up to your knees," said Oscar. + +"I could walk about the streets all day without going over my shoes," +replied his mother, "and so could you, if you tried to. I believe you +go through all the mud-puddles you can find, just to see how wet you +can get. But it won't do for you to sit down in this condition. Take +off your wet boots, and run up stairs and put on a pair of dry +pantaloons and some dry stockings, and then you may sit down to the +fire and warm yourself." + +"I don't want to change my pantaloons and stockings," said Oscar; "I +'ll take off my boots and dry myself--that will do just as well." + +"No it won't," replied his mother; "you had better change your clothes, +for you've got a real bad cold now, and I don't want you to get any +more. Come, do you hear me? Run up to your chamber and put on some +dry clothes." + +Oscar paid no attention to the command, but after removing his wet +boots, sat down before the range to dry his feet and legs. Such +instances of disobedience were too common in the family to attract any +special notice, and Mrs. Preston said nothing more about the matter. + +Oscar, that afternoon, had been down to the shores of Charles River, +near Cambridge Bridge, with Alfred Walton and several other boys. They +had been amusing themselves upon the ice that had formed along the edge +of the river, and which was now breaking up. They loosened some of the +large cakes, and set them floating off upon the current towards the +ocean. It was in this way that Oscar got his feet so wet. + +The next afternoon, when school was dismissed, Oscar, forgetting his +wet feet and his cold, went again to the same place, with several of +his cronies. Tiger also accompanied the party, for his master seldom +went anywhere without him, except to school. The boys amused +themselves, as on the previous day, with shoving off large blocks of +ice into the stream, and with running rapidly over floating pieces that +were not large enough to bear them up. Sometimes they narrowly escaped +a ducking, so venturesome were they; and all of them got their feet +pretty thoroughly soaked. + +It happened, after awhile, that a cake of ice upon which the boys were +all standing, got disengaged from the shore, unperceived by them, and +commenced floating into the river. They were all at work upon another +ice-block, trying to push it off, and did not notice that they were +going off themselves, until they were several feet from the shore. The +distance was too great to leap, and the water was so deep that none of +them dared to jump off from their precarious footing. + +"Well, this is a pretty joke," said one of the boys, with some +appearance of alarm. "I should like to know how we are going to get +out of this scrape?" + +"Get out of it?--who wants to get out of it?" replied Oscar. "I don't, +for one--we shall have a first-rate sail down into the harbor; shan't +we, Alf?" + +"The tide will take us right under the bridge, and I 'm going to climb +up one of the piers," said Alfred, who appeared to be thinking more of +a way of escape than of the pleasures of the trip. + +"Pooh, I shan't get off there," said Oscar. "I 'm in for a sail, and +if the rest of you back out, I shan't. You 'll go too, won't you, Tom?" + +Before Tom could answer, they all began to notice that their ice-cake +gave signs that the burden upon it was greater than it could safely +bear. The swift current began to whirl it about in a rather +uncomfortable manner, and it was gradually settling under water. They +all began to be very much alarmed--all but Tiger, who did not quite +comprehend the situation of affairs, and who looked up into the boys' +faces with an expression of curiosity, as though he wanted to say: + +"I wonder what mischief these little rogues are up to now?" + +Several people who were crossing the bridge now noticed the perilous +situation of the boys, and stopped to look at them. As soon as Alfred +noticed them, he cried out slowly, at the top of his voice: + +"Halloo, there! send us a boat, will you? we 're sinking!" + +[Illustration: Afloat on the Ice.] + +There was some doubt whether the people on the bridge understood the +cry, and the other boys repeated it as loud as they could, in the +meantime also trying to manifest their want by signs and gestures. +Some of the spectators upon the bridge, who were now quite numerous, +shouted back in reply; but the boys, being to their windward, could not +understand what they said. Their frail support was now moving rapidly +along, and whirling about in the eddies more alarmingly than ever. It +had sunk so low that they were all standing in the water, and they +expected it would shortly break to pieces and precipitate them all into +the river. There were four of them upon the cake, besides the dog. +The two youngest boys began to cry with fright; but Oscar and Alfred, +though they were as much alarmed as the others, did not manifest it in +this way, but were looking anxiously towards the bridge and the shore +for relief. + +The boys were not long kept in this dreadful state of suspense; for +pretty soon they discovered a boat putting out towards them from the +end of the bridge. There were two men in it, each of whom was plying +an oar. They called out to the boys not to be frightened, and in a few +minutes they were alongside the fugitive ice-cake, whose living freight +was safely transferred to the boat. The boatmen then pulled for the +wharf from which they came, and the rescued party had the pleasure of +standing once more upon firm ground. They were so overjoyed at their +escape that they forgot to thank the men who had taken so much trouble +to rescue them. They were not ungrateful however; though it would have +been better if their words as well as their looks had expressed the +sentiment they felt. As soon as they reached the wharf, the men +advised them to run home and dry themselves, which they proceeded to do. + +When Oscar reached home, he was so hoarse, from hallooing, that he +could not speak aloud. When his mother heard of his exposure, and saw +how wet he was, she was much concerned for him. She wished him to +change his damp clothing, but he did not think it necessary, and +instead of complying with her desire, he sat down to the fire and dried +himself. He had but little appetite for supper; and a headache coming +on in the evening, he retired to bed early. Before dong so, however, +he took a dose of medicine which his mother had prepared, to "throw +off" his cold. + +After a feverish and restless night--in which, in his troubled dreams, +Oscar had floated to sea upon a small piece of ice, and, after a long +agony, foundered alone in fathomless waters--he awoke in the morning +feeling very strangely. Every few moments a cold chill ran through his +body, that made him shiver until the bed trembled beneath him. His +head ached badly, and there was also a pain in his back. He tried to +raise himself up, but his arms had lost their strength, and he was +barely able to support himself a moment upon his elbow. By-and-bye his +brothers, who slept in the same room in another bed, got up, and Oscar +informed them that he was too weak to get off the bed. They soon +called in their father and mother, who, after looking at the sick boy, +concluded to send for a physician. + +After breakfast, Ralph was despatched for the doctor, who soon arrived, +and was conducted into Oscar's chamber. Seating himself upon the +bedside, he took the sick boy's wrist into his hand, and began to talk +with him very pleasantly, asking him various questions about his +feelings, the manner in which he took cold, &c. Having ascertained all +the facts and symptoms of the case, he told the family he thought Oscar +was suffering from an attack of lung fever, and he then gave directions +as to the manner in which the disease should be treated. He also wrote +a recipe for some medicine, to be procured at the apothecary's. The +terms used in it were Latin, and very much abbreviated, besides, so +that they were unintelligible to Mrs. Preston; for this is a custom +among physicians, that has come down from ancient times. Seeing Mrs. +Preston was in some doubt about the prescription, he explained to her +what the articles were that composed it, and the effect they would have +upon the patient. + +After the doctor had gone, it was decided to remove Oscar into another +chamber, in a lower story, where he would be more comfortable, and +where, also, it would be more convenient to wait upon him. Wrapping +him up warmly in the bed-clothes, his father took him in his arms, and +carried him to the room he was to occupy for the present. + +In spite of his medicine, Oscar continued to grow worse, through the +day. He longed for night to come, that he might go to sleep; but when +it came, it did not bring with it the refreshing slumber of health. +Short naps and troubled dreams alternated with long, weary hours of +wakefulness; and the sun, at its next rising, found him sicker than +before. The pains in his head and chest were more severe; his skin was +hot and dry; his cheeks were flushed with fever; he breathed with +difficulty, and his cough had become quite distressing. He felt cross +and fretful, too, and nothing that was done for him seemed to give him +satisfaction. He was unwilling that any one should attend upon him, +except his mother, and refused to receive his food or medicine from any +hand but hers. If she happened to be absent from his room more than a +few moments, when he was awake, he would insist upon her being called +back. + +But though Oscar would not allow his mother to leave him, she did not +suit him much better than the other members of the family. It was with +considerable difficulty that she could coax him to take the medicines +the doctor had ordered. Then she was obliged to deny him all forms of +nourishment, except a little gum-arabic water,--an arrangement at which +he complained a good deal. + +Oscar's fever continued to run for more than a week, the violence of +the disease increasing from day to day. Then a favorable change took +place, and the doctor told him the fever had turned, and he was getting +better. For a day or two before this, however, he was very ill; so +ill, indeed, that he submitted to whatever the doctor ordered, without +a word of complaint. He felt that there was danger, and he dare not +stand in the way of the means used for his recovery. To this, perhaps, +he owed the favorable turn the disease had taken; for had he refused to +take his medicines, as he did at the commencement of his sickness, or +even had he only engaged in a fruitless but exhausting contest with his +mother, the scale might have turned the other way, and the fever ended +in death. + +Getting better! That was the best news Oscar had heard for many a day. +He almost wanted to kiss the lips that spoke those encouraging words. +He always liked Dr. Liscom, but never so well as at that moment. It +was good news to all the household, too, and flew quickly from one to +another. In fact, the children grew so jubilant over it, that their +mother had to remind them that Oscar was yet too sick to bear any noise +in the house. + +"O dear," said George, "I 've got tired of keeping so still. How long +will it be before we can make a real good noise, mother?" + +"And how long before I can sing, and practice my music-lessons, +mother?" inquired Ella. + +"And how long before Oscar can go out and play?" inquired Ralph, more +thoughtful for his sick brother than for himself. + +"I can't tell," replied their mother; "you must all keep still a few +days longer, for Oscar is very weak now, and the noise disturbs him. +The doctor thinks it will take several weeks for him to get fully well, +but he will soon be able to sit up, I hope." + +The next morning, Oscar felt decidedly better, and so he continued to +improve day by day. But his old impatience soon began to return. He +grumbled every time the hour returned to take his drops, and he fairly +rebelled against the food that was prepared for him--a little weak +gruel, when his appetite was clamoring for a hearty meal of beef and +potatoes! During his sickness, many little delicacies had been sent in +to him by friends and neighbors, and from most of these too he was +still debarred by the inexorable doctor. He teased his mother to let +him have things the doctor had forbidden, and was offended with her +when she refused. He thus made a great deal of unnecessary trouble and +suffering for his mother, who had served him so devotedly through this +sickness that her own health was giving way. + +A day or two after his fever turned, Oscar wished to sit up in a chair, +and begged very hard to be allowed to get up from the bed. + +"Why, Oscar," said his mother, "you could not sit up two minutes, if I +should put you in a chair. You have no idea how weak you are." + +"No, I aint weak," replied Oscar; "I bet you I can walk across the room +just as well as you can--you don't know how strong I 've grown within a +day or two. Come, mother, do let me get up, will you?" + +"You are crazy to talk so, my son," answered Mrs. Preston. "If you +should try to stand up, you would faint away as dead as a log. It will +be a week before you are strong enough to walk about." + +"I believe you mean to keep me sick as long as you can," was Oscar's +unfeeling reply. "I am tired almost to death of laying a-bed," he +added, and the tears began to gather in his eyes. + +His mother felt hurt by these words, but she attributed them to the +weakening and irritating influence of disease, and forgave them as +quickly as they were uttered. She even yielded to his wishes so far as +to offer to let him sit up in bed a little while. He gladly acceded to +the proposal, and putting his arms around her neck, she slowly raised +him up; but he had no sooner reached an upright position than his head +began to "fly round like a top," and he was very glad to be let down +again to his pillow. This little experiment satisfied him for the day. + +It was a fine April morning when Oscar was first taken up from his sick +bed, and placed in an easy chair, well lined with blankets and +comforters. This was a memorable event in his life, the first time he +sat up after nearly three weeks' confinement to his bed. He was +dragged to the front window, from which he could see the people upon +the street below. How familiar, and yet how strange, everything and +everybody looked to his sick eyes! And then, to have his toast and +drink set before him upon a corner of the table, where he could help +himself, and eat and drink with some comfort,--was n't that "grand," to +use his own expressive term! + +Oscar's recovery was now pretty rapid, but his mother had to watch him +very sharply, to prevent him from running into excesses, to which his +impatience continually prompted him. It was hard to make him realize +that there was yet some danger of a relapse, and that prudence would be +necessary for several weeks to come. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +GETTING WELL. + +Oscar had reason to remember the first time he went down stairs, after +his fit of sickness. It was in the night-time. He awoke, feeling +quite hungry; for he was yet kept on a spare diet, which was far from +satisfying the cravings of his appetite. He was alone in his room, and +all the rest of the family were asleep. A lamp was burning dimly in +the fire-place of his chamber, and the door that led into his mother's +room was open, that she might be ready, at the least sound of alarm. +After thinking the matter over a few minutes, and satisfying himself +that no one in the house was awake, he determined to go down stairs in +quest of something to eat. + +"What is the use of starving a fellow to death, because he has been +sick!" he said to himself. "I might as well die one way as another; +and if there 's anything to eat in the house, I'm bound to have it. I +'ve lived on slops and toasted bread three weeks, and I can't stand it +any longer." + +He accordingly got up, and taking the lamp, stole very cautiously into +the entry, and down stairs, having nothing but his night-clothes upon +him. The snapping of the stairs, under his tread, was the only noise +that was heard, and this did not awake any of the household. He +proceeded at once to the kitchen closet, and commenced helping himself +with a free hand to its contents. He began upon a dish of corned beef +and vegetables, from which he partook quite liberally. He then hastily +swallowed a piece of mince-pie, and a slice or two of cake, when, the +night air beginning to feel chilly, he hurried back to bed. This last +operation was by no means so easy as he had imagined it would be. His +knees were very weak and "shaky," and it seemed as though they could +not support him, when he undertook to go up stairs. He was alarmed, +and would have given up the attempt, and called for help, but for the +dread of being caught in such a flagrant act of disobedience. So he +persisted in his efforts, and finally reached his chamber, quite +exhausted. + +After a heavy and troubled sleep, Oscar awoke in the morning, feeling +quite wretchedly. As soon as his mother entered the room, her quick +eye detected the unfavorable change; but he did not seem inclined to +complain much of his feelings, and appeared averse to conversing about +them. She ascertained, however, after awhile, that Oscar was more +feverish than he had been, that he had a severe pain in his chest, and +that his cough was worse. Many were the surmises thrown out, by his +father and mother, as to the probable cause of this change in his +symptoms; but as for himself, he seemed entirely at a loss to account +for the mystery, and left them to form their own conjectures. + +The doctor, who now visited Oscar only two or three times a week, was +sent for after breakfast. When he arrived, he questioned Mrs. Preston +very closely as to the manner in which the patient had been treated, +and he also addressed many inquiries to Oscar; but he learned nothing +from either that could account for the renewed attack of fever. He sat +a few moments, in a thoughtful mood, seemingly at a loss what to say, +when Oscar, who had complained much of nausea for the last half hour, +began to show symptoms of vomiting. A basin was brought, and the +contents of his stomach were quickly discharged into it. + +The mystery was now explained. Mrs. Preston looked on in silent +astonishment, while the doctor could hardly repress his anger at this +exhibition of the contents of his patient's stomach. There were great +pieces of unmasticated meat and potato, mixed up with a porridge of +half-dissolved pie and cake, the whole forming a medley of hearty and +indigestible substances, that would have taxed the strong stomach of a +healthy man. + +"Well," said the doctor, turning to Mrs. Preston, when Oscar got +through, "what does all this mean?" + +"I know not; you must ask him," replied Mrs. Preston. + +The same question, put to Oscar, brought from him a reluctant +confession of the last night's folly. When he had concluded, the +doctor arose, and taking his hand, said: + +"I will bid you good-bye. It's of no use for me to attend upon you any +longer, if you abuse my confidence in this way. If you want to kill +yourself I won't stand in your way. Good morning." + +Before Oscar recovered from his astonishment, the doctor had reached +the entry. Addressing his mother who was following him, he said: + +"Call him back, mother--tell him I won't do so again--call him back." + +The doctor heard the message, and returned. + +"I will consent to prescribe for you only on one condition," he said; +"and that is, that you will agree to do precisely as I tell you to. +You must take the medicines I order, and eat only what I tell you to, +or I will have nothing more to do with you. Do you agree to that?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar. + +The doctor resumed his seat, and felt the patient's pulse. He had not +yet got entirely over his irritation, and, turning to Mrs. Preston, he +remarked: + +"If the patient was a little stronger, my first prescription would be a +smart external application of birch or ratan; but, as it is, we shall +have to omit that for the present. You need not think you will escape +punishment, however," he continued, turning to Oscar. "This scrape of +yours will put you back more than one week and if you are not careful +you may never get your health again. You may trifle with the doctor, +but you can't trifle with the lung fever." + +The doctor then gave directions as to Oscar's diet and medicine, and +departed, but not until he had again warned him against leaving the +room without his mother's consent, or eating any articles forbidden by +her. + +Oscar found no opportunity after this to evade the commands of the +doctor, had he been so disposed, for some one was always with him by +day and night. Still, his recovery seemed to have been checked very +much by his relapse, and the doctor's skill was taxed pretty severely +to bring the fever to a favorable termination. As it was, his attempt +was not fully successful; for the fever, in spite of all he could do, +left behind it a cough, and a weakness of the lungs, which gave Oscar's +parents no little alarm at times. + +For a fortnight after his midnight supper, Oscar allowed his mother and +the doctor to do just as they pleased with him. He yielded to their +wishes, and their orders were law to him. At the end of that time the +doctor discontinued his regular visits. Oscar was now able to go +out-doors a little in very pleasant weather; but his cough rendered +prudence still very necessary. His confinement, however, was daily +growing more irksome, and sometimes he disregarded the positive +commands of his parents by going out when the weather was unsuitable. + +One morning, a menagerie, or collection of wild beasts, was to enter +the city in grand procession. There were to be several elephants and +camels on foot, besides hundreds of other animals (invisible) in +carriages. There was also to be a mammoth gilt chariot, filled with +musicians, and drawn by ever so many horses. The procession was to +pass very near the street where Oscar lived, and he intended to go and +see it; but when the morning came, there was a cold, drizzling rain, +with an uncomfortable east wind, and his mother told him he must not +think of going out. He did think of it, however, and not only thought +of it, but went. While his mother was up stairs, he quietly slipped +out, and went to the corner the procession was expected to pass. There +he waited about an hour, until he became thoroughly wet and chilled, +and then returned home, without seeing the sight; for the showmen had +shortened their intended route on account of the storm. He entered the +house, vexed by his disappointment and the uncomfortable plight he was +in; and when his mother mildly reproved him for his conduct, and +entreated him to be more careful of himself, he only replied that he +did not wish to live, if he must be shut up in the house all the time. +This act of imprudence and disobedience made him a close prisoner in +the house for several days, besides causing him no little suffering. + +Oscar employed much of his leisure time in reading, during his +confinement in-doors. His acquaintances lent him many interesting +books, with which he beguiled the weary hours. One day, happening to +think of a volume belonging to his classmate, Benjamin Wright, which he +thought he should like to read, he sent word by Ralph that he wished to +borrow it. The next morning Benjamin brought it to school, and Ralph +took it home to Oscar. On removing the paper in which it was wrapped +up, a letter dropped out, which Oscar found was directed to himself. +He opened it, and a smile lit up his countenance as he glanced over the +sheet, which was filled up with drawings and writing of an amusing +character. Benjamin was quite famous among the boys for the skill and +facility with which he made sketches, and in this letter he had given a +curious specimen of his artistic talent. The following is a copy of +this production: + + +DEAR OSCAR: + + I am sorry to hear you 're in weakness and pain, + And I send you a book to beguile your tired brain; + I send also some puzzles, to stir up your wit, + And tempt you to laugh, when you really don't feel like it one bit! + +[Illustration: A Queer Name.] + + What a queer name! + + What do we all do when we first get into bed? + Why is swearing like an old coat? + What is that which is lengthened by being cut at both ends? + + My first, if you do, you won't hit; + My second, if you do, you will have it; + My whole, if you do, you won't guess it. + +[Illustration: The Double Face.] + + Turn me over, pray. + + A word there is, five syllables contains; + Take one away, no syllable remains. + + What is that which is lower with a head than without one? + Who was the first whistler? + What tune did he whistle? + How do you swallow a door? + What is that which lives in winter, dies in summer, and + grows with its root upwards? + If you were to tumble out of the window, what would you fall against? + +[Illustration: The Cat-Erect.] + + Why is this like the Falls of Niagara? + If my puzzles are simple, and my pictures a fright, + Then just laugh at me, and it will all + B. WRIGHT. + + +This letter was the prime source of attraction to all the children, the +rest of the day; and its reception formed an era in Oscar's sick-day +experience, not easily to be forgotten. All the family, from Mr. +Preston down to little George, set themselves to work to guess out the +riddles; but in some of them, they found more than their match. To +Oscar, however, the letter was something more than a collection of +drawings and puzzles. It was a token of interest and sympathy from a +boy towards whom he had never manifested a very friendly spirit. +Benjamin's high standing in the school, both for scholarship and +behavior, had awakened in Oscar a secret feeling of jealousy or +resentment towards him. He was a poor boy, too, and this by no means +increased Oscar's respect for him. But now, Oscar began to feel +ashamed of all this; and as instances of his unkind treatment of his +generous classmate came up in remembrance, he wished he had the power +to blot them from existence. He determined thenceforth to "stand up" +for Benjamin, and began to plan some way of making a return for his +manifestation of good feeling. + +Ella wanted to carry Benjamin's letter to school, to show to the girls, +but Oscar would not allow it to go out of his hands. She then begged +the privilege of copying it, to which he consented. She did the best +she could, no doubt, but her drawings probably did not quite do justice +to the subjects; for Oscar declared that her copy was more comical than +the original. She lent it to some of her schoolmates, one of whom was +roguish enough to show it to Benjamin himself! He laughed heartily at +the caricature; but thinking it was getting him rather more notoriety +than he wished, he put it in his pocket, and that was the end of it. + +In consequence of his many acts of imprudence, Oscar got along very +slowly in his recovery. Yet he was daily growing more impatient of his +long confinement, and the utmost vigilance of his parents was necessary +to restrain him from doing himself harm. During stormy weather, which +was not rare at that season of the year, he was not allowed to go out, +and the time passed heavily with him. One rainy afternoon, as he was +sitting listlessly at a front window, watching for some object of +interest to pass, a coach stopped at the door, and his heart beat high +at the thought of his dulness being dispelled by the arrival of +"company." The driver opened the coach door, and out jumped a stout, +brown-faced man, whom Oscar at once recognized as his uncle, John +Preston, from Maine. + +The arrival of Uncle John was soon heralded through the house, and a +warm greeting extended to him. He usually visited the city thrice a +year on business, and on such occasions made his brother's house his +stopping-place. He lived in the town of Brookdale, where he had a +family; but he was engaged in the lumber business, and generally spent +the winter months in the forests of Maine, with large gangs of loggers, +who were employed to cut down trees, and convey them to the banks of +the streams, where they were floated down to the mills in the spring +freshets. These forests are far from any settlement, and the +lumber-men live in log-huts, in a very independent and care-for-nobody +sort of way. Oscar had often heard his uncle describe their manner of +life, and, to him, there was something quite fascinating about it. He +thought he should like the logging business very much--all but the +_working_ part of it; he was afraid that would spoil the whole, for his +Uncle John always represented it as being pretty hard work. + +Oscar had four cousins in Brookdale, the children of his Uncle John, +none of whom he had ever seen. He had many questions to ask about +them, in the course of which he expressed a wish that he might visit +them. His uncle replied that he should like to take him home with him, +and, as he was sick, he thought the journey might do him good. He +afterwards talked with Oscar's parents about the matter, and they +finally concluded to let him go, hoping that a few weeks in the country +would improve his health. + + +NOTE.--The following are the solutions of the puzzles, &c., in +Benjamin's letter, contained in this chapter. The first puzzle is the +name of Oscar Preston, enigmatically expressed. 2. Make an impression. +3. It is a bad habit. 4. A ditch. 5. Mistake. 6. Monosyllable. 7. A +pillow. 8. The wind. 9. "Over the hills and far away." 10. Bolt it. +11. An icicle. 12. Against your inclination. 13. It is a cataract +(cat erect). + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE JOURNEY. + +Oscar's valise was well packed for his journey, and many were the +injunctions given him by his mother, in regard to his conduct during +his absence from home. The morning for his departure soon came, and, +in company with his uncle, he proceeded to the depôt, and took the cars +for Portland. It was a mild spring morning, near the close of May. +Oscar secured a seat by a window, from which he could see the country +they passed through; while his uncle, to whom the journey was no +novelty, seated himself by his side, and was soon absorbed in his +morning newspaper. + +The keen relish with which Oscar set out upon his long ride gradually +wore off, and he began to feel weary long before the train reached its +destination. It was just noon when they arrived at Portland; and as it +was too late to reach Brookdale that day, Oscar's uncle concluded to +stop there until the next morning. They proceeded to a hotel, where +they booked their names, and were shown to a chamber. After dinner, +Mr. Preston took Oscar to walk, and showed him some of the most notable +places about town. But the latter felt too tired to walk about a great +deal, and spent most of the afternoon in the hotel, while his uncle was +off attending to some business. + +After supper, Mr. Preston again went out to make some calls. He +invited Oscar to go with him, but he preferred to remain in the hotel. +He lounged awhile in the bar-room, as it was called (though there was +no bar in it), listening to the conversation of the men who had +gathered there. At length, beginning to grow sleepy, he retired to his +chamber, taking with him a queer little lamp the landlord gave him, +which appeared to hold only about a thimblefull of oil. Oscar thought +it was a stingy contrivance, and had some notion of sitting up to see +how long it would burn; but his eyelids grew heavy, and he gave up the +idea. Throwing off his clothing, he extinguished his diminutive lamp, +and took possession of one of the beds in the room, of which there were +two. As he composed himself to sleep, a slight sense of lonesomeness +stole over him, when he remembered that he was alone in a strange house +and a strange city, more than a hundred miles from his home; and almost +unconsciously he found himself reverently repeating the little prayer +he had been taught by his mother in infancy, but which of late years, +in his sad waywardness, he had outgrown and almost forgotten: + + "Now I lay me down to sleep, + I pray the lord my soul to keep; + If I should die before I wake, + I pray the lord my soul to take." + + +He had occasionally repeated to himself this simple but appropriate +evening petition during his late illness; but, strange to tell, for +several years previous to that time, the thought of asking anything of +the great Giver of all good had scarcely ever entered his mind. + +Oscar was soon fast asleep, and the next thing he was conscious of was +the striking of a strange church-clock, that awoke him in the morning. +His uncle was dressing himself, and the sun was shining in at the +window. For a moment, he was puzzled to determine where he was; but +his recollection returned when his uncle remarked: + +"Come, Oscar, it is time to get up,--we have got to be at the depôt in +an hour." + +Oscar jumped out of bed, and was dressed and ready for the breakfast +table before the bell rang. After the morning meal was +despatched,--for it was literally a work of despatch, judging from the +celerity with which the heaping plates of hot biscuits and beef-steak +disappeared from the long table,--Mr. Preston settled with the +landlord, and proceeded with Oscar to the railroad depôt. + +"How much further have we got to go?" inquired Oscar, after they had +taken their seat in the car. + +"About one hundred and twenty miles," replied his uncle; "and +thirty-five of it will be in a stage-coach--that is the worst of the +whole journey." + +"I shall like that part of it first-rate, I guess," said Oscar. "If +they have good horses, I know I shall." + +"You will find out how you like it, before night," added Mr. Preston, +with a smile. + +The cars were soon on their way, and Oscar's eyes and attention were +fully engaged in taking note of the scenery from the windows. The +appearance of the country did not differ much from that through which +he passed the day previous; and long before he reached the end of his +eighty-miles' ride, his attention began to flag, and his eyes to grow +weary. It was about eleven o'clock, when they arrived at the depôt at +which they were to leave the train. Here they had an opportunity to +rest an hour, and to take dinner, before resuming their journey. + +After dinner, the stage-coach made its appearance, and the passengers +began to stow themselves away within it, Oscar mounted the outside, and +took a seat with the driver, with whom he was soon on intimate terms. +All things being ready, the horses started, at the familiar "Get up!" +and they were on their way toward Brookdale. + +The horses did not prove quite so smart as Oscar hoped they would, and +the coach was a heavy and hard-riding concern, compared with those he +was accustomed to ride upon at home. But the road was good, though +hilly, and the scenery, much of the way, was very pleasant. The +driver, too, was quite talkative, and Oscar being the only outside +passenger, enjoyed the full benefit of his communicativeness. +Occasionally they passed through a village, with its rows of neat white +houses, its tall church steeple, its bustling store, and its groups of +children playing in the streets. Now and then they stopped a few +moments, to leave a passenger, a package, or a mail-bag; for the strong +leathern bags, with brass padlocks, which the driver had carefully +packed away under his box, contained the United States' mails for the +towns along his route. + +As they advanced on their way, the villages became less frequent, the +farm houses were more scattering, and the country grew more wild. +Sometimes the road extended for miles through thickly-wooded forests. +Occasionally they would come in sight of a river, and, perhaps, would +hear the clatter and whizzing of a saw-mill, or get a glimpse of a raft +of logs floating lazily down the stream. It was about six o'clock when +the stage stopped at the post-office of a small settlement, and the +driver told Oscar he was going to leave him there. His seat had grown +tiresome, during the last few hours, and he was by no means sorry to +leave it. + +"Well, Jerry, here I am again," said Mr. Preston, addressing a boy who +stood by. "How are all the folks at home?" + +"They are well," replied the boy addressed. + +"This way Oscar," said Mr. Preston, pointing to a horse and wagon on +the opposite side of the street. "Oscar, this is your cousin Jerry," +he continued, and the boys shook hands with each other, in +acknowledgment of the introduction. + +Oscar now learned that they were yet five miles from Brookdale, and +that as the stage did not pass any nearer to his uncle's, Jerry had +come over with a horse to take his father home. There being but one +seat to the wagon, Mr. Preston and Oscar took possession of it, while +Jerry seated himself on the floor behind them. While on the way to +Brookdale, Oscar addressed several remarks to his cousin; but the +latter seemed shy, and they did not get acquainted with each other very +fast. They passed but very few houses, and Oscar looked in vain for +any signs of a village. At length, when he thought they could not be +far from their journey's end, he inquired: + +"Where is the village, uncle John? Shan't we see any of it, going to +your house?" + +"This is the village," replied Mr. Preston. + +"This a village!" exclaimed Oscar; "why, I don't see any houses." + +"This is all the village there is," replied his uncle; "there are +hardly any two houses in sight of each other in the town." + +They were now approaching an old, two-story farmhouse, in the doorway +of which a woman and several children were standing, looking towards +them. This proved to be the end of their journey. Having driven the +wagon into the large barn which stood nearly opposite the house, Mr. +Preston left Jerry to put up the horse, and proceeded at once to the +house with his nephew. Mrs. Preston had seen Oscar in Boston, and came +out to meet him. She welcomed him very cordially, and inquired after +all the other members of the family. She then introduced him to his +three other cousins, Emily, Harriet, and Mary, all of whom were younger +than Jerry, and quite as shy and silent as he, at the presence of a +stranger. + +Supper was now ready, and all the family, including James, the hired +man, seated themselves at the table. Mr. Preston, during the meal, +talked freely of what he had seen and done since he left home; but the +children maintained their gravity and silence, though Oscar tried hard +to break the ice of restraint with Jerry, who sat by his side. A +strange face was an unusual thing among them, and they could not get +over it in a moment. + +After supper, Mrs. Preston and her oldest daughter cleared off the +table and washed the dishes; James and Jerry went out to the barn; Mr. +Preston sat down to a table to examine some papers he had in his +pocket-book; while Harriet and Mary remained, to keep Oscar company. +The latter now began to make advances towards his youngest cousin, who +was the prettiest and most interesting of the children. A little +coaxing brought her to his side. + +"Do you know what my name is, Sissy?" he inquired. + +"Yes; it's Oscar," she replied. + +"Oscar what?" he inquired. + +"Cousin Oscar," she answered, after a little hesitation. + +"Yes, but that is n't all of it," replied Oscar; "don't you know the +other part of it--Cousin Oscar----what?" + +Mary looked thoughtful a moment, and then replied, in a confident tone, +"Boston." + +Oscar could not help laughing at this amusing mistake, and Mary, +feeling hurt at the liberty he took, began to move away; but he held +her by the hand, saying: + +"No, don't go yet, Sissy--you got my name almost right, after all. +Cousin Oscar Preston, from Boston,--that was what you meant to say, was +n't it?" + +"Yes," replied Mary. + +"Now tell me what your name is?" continued Oscar. + +"Mary Preston," she replied. + +"And how old are you?" + +"I 'm going to be six next winter," she answered, with animation. + +"Very well,--you 're a smart little girl," replied Oscar. + +"How old be you?" inquired Mary, now turning the table upon her +questioner. + +"I 'm fourteen," said Oscar. + +"You 're a smart little boy," added Mary, with a roguish twinkle in her +eye, and she darted out of the room with a merry laugh. + +After that, there was no more shyness between Mary and Oscar. With the +older children, however, Oscar did not get acquainted quite so easily, +particularly with the girls. He made but little progress with any of +them that evening, until he retired with Jerry, with whom he was to +sleep during his visit. After they had got into bed, Jerry's tongue +was loosed, and before they went to sleep his reserve had almost +entirely vanished. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BROOKDALE. + +The next morning the air was extremely raw and chilly, and there were +strong indications of rain. Oscar's uncle and aunt advised him so +earnestly not to expose himself to the cold and damp wind, that he did +not extend his rambles any further than to the barn that day. But if +he did not go far, he made many new acquaintances. Having made sure of +Jerry and Mary, he left his other two cousins to "surrender at +discretion," and turned his attention in another direction. His first +performance was to introduce himself to Billy, the horse, who was +eating the breakfast James had just given him. After rubbing and +talking to him awhile, he paid his respects to a pair of oxen and three +or four cows, which he helped James and Jerry to drive into the pasture +near the barn. He next visited the hogs, and then the hens. This +completed the list of life stock on the farm. He then had a frolic +with Jerry in the hay-loft, in the midst of which he suddenly stopped +and inquired: + +"Is n't it almost time for you to go to school, Jerry?" + +"No," his cousin replied, with a laugh, "it wants just six months of +it." + +"Six months!" exclaimed Oscar; "what do you mean? Don't you go to +school?" + +"Yes, I go when there is any school; but it does n't commence till next +December," replied Jerry. + +"That's a queer idea," said Oscar; "I should like to know how long your +school keeps, after it begins." + +"It keeps three months," replied Jerry. + +"I should like that first-rate--I wish I lived here," said Oscar; "I +have to go to school all the time. But why does n't your school keep +more than three months?" + +"I don't know," replied Jerry; "I guess it's because folks are too +stingy to pay for it. They 've been talking of having a summer school, +but I don't believe it will amount to anything." + +"I should hope it would n't if I lived here," said Oscar. "What +capital times you must have!--no school to bother you, and no lessons +to get. But I suppose you have to work some--don't you?" + +"No, not much," said Jerry; "I help a little in planting and haying +time, and have a few chores to do about the house,--that's all." + +"Do you have many boys to play with?" inquired Oscar. + +"There are boys enough," replied his cousin, "but they are scattered +all over town,--that's the worst of it. There is only one fellow of my +age that lives near here, and he's half a mile off." + +"If you call that near, I should like to know what you call distant," +said Oscar. "I 'm afraid I should be lonesome if I lived here." + +"Halloo, it rains!" said Jerry, as the big drops began to sound upon +the roof over their heads. + +"Then I 'm going in," added Oscar, and they both started for the house. + +It proved to be a rainy day, and Oscar was obliged to find his +amusement in-doors through its remaining hours. With his four cousins +to help him, this was not a very difficult matter. When he retired at +night, he felt quite at home in his new quarters. + +The sun rose clearly the next morning, and everything looked the more +beautiful for the rain. To Oscar, the fields not only seemed greener, +but the hills looked higher, and the trees more majestic, than they did +the day before. + +"Why," he exclaimed, as he stood before the chamber window, "there is a +pond away off there, is n't there? I did n't know that before." + +"Yes, that's a pond," replied Jerry, "and we 've got a small river, +too, but you can't see it from here. We 'll go over to the pond, some +warm day, and go into water; it's a real good place to bathe." + +"Perhaps we 'll go to-day," said Oscar; "it looks as though it were +going to be real warm." + +Mrs. Preston now called to the boys that breakfast was ready, and they +hurriedly finished dressing themselves, and descended to the kitchen. +Having washed his face at the sink, Oscar stepped to the door, and used +his pocket-comb; but Jerry was in too great a hurry to go through this +last operation, and he was about taking his seat at the table, with his +hair standing up in every direction, when his father inquired: + +"Jerry, what have you been doing to your head?" + +"Nothing," replied Jerry, with a look of surprise. + +"Well, I think you had better do something to it, before you come +here," said his father. "Oscar will think you were brought up among +the wild Arabs, if you come to the table with such a mop of hair as +that about your head. Don't you see how nicely he has smoothed his +hair?" + +"He's got a comb of his own. I wish you would buy me one, father," +said Jerry. + +"Don't stand there talking--go and comb your hair," said Mr. Preston, +somewhat sharply. + +To tell the truth, Jerry did need a lesson in neatness; and in this +respect, Oscar was a very good model for him to imitate. Having +reduced his snarly locks to something like order and smoothness, Jerry +took his seat at the table, much improved in appearance. + +"You 'll have a chance to go about some to-day, Oscar," said Mr. +Preston; "it's about twenty-five degrees warmer than it was yesterday." + +"Father," said Jerry, "I and Oscar--" + +"I and Oscar--where did you learn your manners?" interrupted his mother. + +Jerry was for a moment in doubt whether to be offended or not at this +second unexpected lesson in good-breeding; but he finally concluded to +make the best of it, and went on with his story: + +"Oscar and I, then--were going over to the pond this forenoon, and I +guess it will be warm enough for us to go into water. Should n't you +think it would?" + +"No, indeed," replied Mr. Preston, "you mustn't think of such a thing. +It's only the first of June, and you ought not to go into water for two +or three weeks yet. Besides, Oscar 's an invalid, and I should n't +like to have him go in, even if it was warm enough for you. I would +n't walk about much, either, at first," he continued, addressing Oscar. +"You 're weak, and must look out, and not overdo yourself. This +afternoon, when the horse is at leisure, Jerry shall give you a ride; +so you had better not go far this forenoon." + +The river of which Jerry spoke is a small stream that has its source in +the lake Oscar saw from the chamber window. It flows in a +south-westerly direction, crossing the road on which Mr. Preston lived, +not far from his house. A small bridge is thrown over the river at +this point. After breakfast, Jerry and Oscar walked down to this +bridge, and then, leaving the road, followed the river through the +fields and woods, to its fountain-head. Here they found a beautiful +sheet of water, more than half a mile across, in one direction, with an +irregular shore, fringed most of the way with woods. A two-masted +sail-boat was riding at anchor, a little off from the shore, which +Oscar regarded with wishful eye; but as it did not belong to Mr. +Preston, and they could not reach it without going into the water, it +was of no use to think of taking a sail. They now walked along the +edge of the pond, some distance, and after wandering some time in the +woods, they returned home by a circuitous route. + +The annexed map of Brookdale will show the location of the pond, river, +&c. Jerry lived in the house numbered 2. + +[Illustration: Map of Brookdale.] + +Oscar and Jerry spent the rest of the forenoon in the barn and +wood-shed, and in the fields immediately around the house. After +dinner, Mr. Preston told the boys they could have the horse and wagon, +and as the family wanted some groceries, they might ride over to the +store and get them. They accordingly tackled up the team, and were +soon on their way. + +The store at which Mr. Preston traded was at the village where the +stage left Oscar, which goes by the name of the "Cross-Roads," from the +fact that two of the principal thoroughfares of that section of country +cross at this point. Though this store was about five miles distant, +there was no other one nearer to Mr. Preston's. The boys had a fine +ride over to the village. Oscar drove, and was quite anxious to put +Billy to a test of his speed; but as his uncle told them not to hurry, +because the horse had been worked some in the forenoon, he did not dare +to make any experiment of this kind. Jerry assured him, however, that +he once drove Billy over to the Cross-Roads in just twenty minutes, +which was the quickest time he had ever been known to make. He thought +this a remarkable feat; but Oscar did not seem much astonished at it, +and said he knew of horses that could go a mile in three minutes, and +even in less time if the road was smooth and level. + +After riding about three-quarters of an hour, they arrived at the +Cross-Roads, and drove up to a post and chain for tying horses in front +of the store. The store was kept in a large wooden building. Over the +door was the sign, "J. FLETCHER, VARIETY STORE;" and the shutters were +covered with columns of names of articles sold within, such as "Bacon," +"Cheese," "Flour," "Grain," "Shoes," "Dry Goods," &c. Another sign in +one of the windows indicated that this was also the post-office of the +village. + +The boys went into the store, and while Jerry was ordering the articles +his mother had sent for, Oscar improved the opportunity to look around +the premises. It was to him a queer assortment of goods. There seemed +to be a little of everything for sale. Here you could buy of one +salesman articles that you could obtain in Boston only by visiting a +dozen different shops. Groceries and dry goods, country produce and +hardware, boots, shoes, and hats, confectionary and fancy articles, +stoves and children's toys, were in most neighborly companionship. +Before leaving the store, Oscar invested a few cents in candy and +cigars; for his father had given him a little spare change beyond what +was necessary to defray the expenses of the journey. He shared the +candy with Jerry, and put the cigars in his pocket for future use. + +Jerry having finished his business at the store, they set out on their +return, and arrived home in safety and without meeting with any +remarkable adventure. The boys employed themselves the rest of the +afternoon in planning excursions and amusements, and before they got +through, they had laid out "fun" enough to occupy them for several days. + +The evenings were now quite short, and as it was the custom to retire +to bed early at Mr. Preston's, it frequently happened that no lamps +were lit in the house for several days in succession. As twilight came +on that evening, Oscar, who began to feel pretty tired, laid down upon +the sofa in the sitting-room, and in a few minutes was fast asleep. +Jerry got a straw, and was about to tickle his ear, when his mother +stopped him. Oscar's nap, however, was a short one, and suddenly +waking up, he began to laugh. + +"I guess you had a pleasant dream," said his aunt. + +"I had a real funny one," replied Oscar. "I thought you sent me over +to the store to get some things, and when I got there, I had them all +jumbled together in my head, and I told the man I wanted a yard of +molasses, and a pound of calico, and a gallon of shingle-nails, and I +did n't know what else. And I thought the man laughed, and asked me if +I would take them loose, or have them done up in a rag. Then another +boy that was in the store set up a loud laugh, and that woke me up. I +wonder how long I slept--do you know, aunt?" + +"Only two or three minutes," replied Mrs. Preston. + +"I was real smart, then," replied Oscar; "for you gave me my errand, +and I harnessed the horse and drove away over to the Cross-Roads, and +went through the scene in the store, and woke up again, all in two or +three minutes. I thought I 'd been asleep half an hour." + +"I should think you 'd dream about the store," said Jerry; "you 've +made fun enough about it, if that 's all." + +"Well, I 'll leave it to aunt if it is n't odd to see such a queer lot +of stuff in one store; I 've heard about country stores, but I never +saw one that would come up to that before. It is almost equal to going +into a fair, to go in there. There was everything you could think of, +from a grindstone to a pop-gun." + +"There is n't business enough to support more than one trader, and that +is the reason why Mr. Fletcher keeps such a variety," said Mrs. Preston. + +"I know that," said Oscar, "and I suppose the folks are glad to have +him keep all sorts of knick-knacks; but it seems queer to me, to see +groceries and dry goods, and everything else, in the same shop." + +"Did you see any babies there?" inquired little Mary, who was amusing +herself by walking around the room backwards. + +"What sort of babies--live ones, or rag ones, or wax ones?" inquired +Oscar. + +"No, none of them," replied Mary; "I mean crying babies, like Annie +Davenport's." + +"O, you mean those little dolls that make a squeaking noise when you +squeeze them. No, I believe I did n't see any," said Oscar. + +"No, Mr. Fletcher would n't keep such silly things as them," said +Jerry, who was very fond of teasing his sisters. + +"No, they aint silly, either, are they cousin Oscar?" said Mary. + +"No," replied Oscar, "seeing it's you, they aint silly." + +Mary was continuing her backward walk around the room, and was just at +that moment passing before Jerry, when he suddenly put out his foot, +and stumbling over it, she fell heavily upon the floor, striking her +head against a corner of the sofa. A loud scream immediately followed +this mishap, and as the author of it hastened to raise up his sister, +he was himself a little frightened; but seeing no blood flowing from +her head, he concluded she was "more scared than hurt," and tried to +turn the affair into a joke, saying: + +"There, sis, you're a little crying baby yourself, now. Come, stop +your noise; you 've blubbered enough about it. It didn't hurt you, did +it?" + +"Come here, dear, what is the matter?" said Mrs. Preston, who had left +the room a moment before, and hurried back on hearing Mary scream. + +"Jerry knocked me over," said Mary, sobbing bitterly, as her mother +lifted her up into her lap. + +"Where did it hurt you, dear?--there? Well, let mother rub it, and it +will feel better soon. Jerry is a naughty boy to do so. Why need you +torment your little sister so?" Mrs. Preston added, turning to Jerry. + +Mr. Preston, who had been sitting upon the door-step, smoking his pipe, +as was his custom in the evening, came in, on hearing the uproar; and +having ascertained what the trouble was, he boxed Jerry's ears pretty +severely, and sent him off to bed. Oscar soon followed him; but Jerry +was so mortified at the rough handling he had received, that he +scarcely spoke again that night. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +IN THE WOODS. + +It was soon evident that the air of Brookdale agreed with Oscar. He +was fast gaining his strength, and the increased fulness and color of +his countenance betokened returning health. No part of this +improvement was to be attributed to the bottle of cough drops his +mother packed away in the bottom of his valise, and charged him to take +every morning and night; for the drops were not very palatable, and he +had not opened the bottle since he left home. In fact, he had by this +time quite forgotten both the medicine and his mother's injunction. + +So rapid was the improvement in Oscar's health, that two or three days +after his trip to the Cross-Roads, Mr. Preston gave his consent to an +excursion he and Jerry had planned, which was to occupy a whole day. +"Old Staple's Hut," as it was called, was the place they proposed to +visit. It was about four miles distant, beyond the hills in the +north-east part of the town, represented in the upper corner of the map +of Brookdale. They were to carry their dinner, and Mrs. Preston +accordingly filled a small basket with eatables. While she was doing +this, Jerry took Oscar aside and said: + +"There is one thing more we want, and that is father's gun. I know he +won't let me have it, but I guess he would lend it to you, if you +should ask him." + +"Yes, we must have a gun," replied Oscar; "and I should just as lief +ask him for it as not." + +Oscar hunted up his uncle, and made known his request. Mr. Preston +hesitated a moment, and then inquired: + +"Does your father allow you to use a gun at home?" + +"He never says anything about it, either way," replied Oscar. + +"Well, I guess you had better not take the gun," said Mr. Preston. "I +'m afraid you might get hurt,--that's all I care about. I don't allow +Jerry to use firearms, and I should n't like to put anything of the +kind into your hands without your father's consent." + +"But I 'll be very careful if you 'll let me have it," added Oscar. "I +'ve fired a gun several times, and know how to handle it." + +"No, I think you had better not carry the gun with you," replied his +uncle. "If you used it, Jerry would think he must, and I know he is +too careless to be trusted with it. He 'd shoot you, just as like as +not, if he did n't kill himself." + +Mr. Preston's tone was so decided, that Oscar saw it would be useless +to say anything more about the gun, and so he and Jerry were obliged to +abandon the idea of taking it with them. Taking their basket of +provisions, they accordingly set out on their long tramp. Leaving the +road, and turning into a footpath through the fields, they passed close +by the upper edge of the pond. In this part of their walk there was a +good deal of swamp land, and a number of brooks to cross. Sometimes +they had to pick their way along upon stones which had been placed at +regular intervals in wet places, or upon old logs that served for +bridges; and at times it required no little skill in balancing to avoid +getting a wet foot. After they had got beyond the pond, however, the +land gradually ascended, and was mostly occupied as pastures for +cattle. But they still occasionally came to a brook, flowing down from +the hills towards the pond. Most of them were so narrow, they could +easily jump over them; but in one instance they were obliged to take +off their shoes and stockings and wade across. + +"Now you see why this place is called Brookdale," said Jerry, after +they had passed four or five of these little streams. + +"Is that the reason, because there are so many brooks? I never thought +of that before," said Oscar. + +"Yes, that's it," replied Jerry. "In the spring these brooks make +quite a show; but they get low in the summer, and generally dry up in +August, unless it's a very wet season." + +"I 'm going to cut me a cane," said Oscar, taking out his knife; "I see +a real straight and handsome one in there," and he pointed to a thicket +they were approaching. + +"That's nothing but birch--that won't make a good cane," replied Jerry; +"stop a minute, and I 'll find you something better." + +After looking about a little, Jerry found some beeches, which he said +would make good canes. They accordingly cut two of the straightest and +handsomest. + +"I mean to try an experiment with mine," said Oscar, "and see if I +can't crook the top of it. Do you know how they do it, Jerry?" + +"No, I always thought they grew in that shape," replied Jerry. + +"A man told me they boiled the end of the stick and then bent it," said +Oscar. "He said that was the way all the hooked canes were made. I +don't know whether he knew or not, but I mean to try it some day, and +see how it works." + +"I don't believe in that," said Jerry. "It is n't very likely you can +bend such a stick as that without breaking it; just see how stiff it +is." + +"I don't care, I'll try it, just to satisfy myself," replied Oscar. + +Oscar was right in regard to bending wood. The hooked-top +walking-sticks are made in the way he described,--by boiling the end, +and then bending it into an arch. In boiling wood, several substances +which enter into its composition are dissolved, and others are +softened, so that it is rendered flexible. + +The boys trudged slowly on their way, now aided by their canes, which, +in a long walk, are of no slight service to the pedestrian. As they +sauntered along, chatting, singing, and whistling, as merrily as the +birds around them, Oscar remembered the cigars he bought at the store, +and soon the pure atmosphere of the fields was polluted with the vile +odor of bad tobacco. Oscar had been in the habit of smoking +occasionally for some time; but though he considered it a manly +accomplishment, he was very careful not to let his parents know that he +was addicted to it. He prevailed upon his cousin to take a cigar; but +Jerry was not very partial to tobacco, and a few whiffs satisfied him +for that occasion. + +They had now reached the foot of the long, steep hills, over which they +must climb. These hills were thickly wooded most of the way, forming +beautiful groves, cool, dark, fragrant with resinous odors, and softly +carpeted with moss and decayed leaves. Oscar and Jerry concluded to +rest a few minutes before scaling the hills. Selecting a favorable +spot, they stretched themselves at full length upon the ground, and +looked up towards the distant tree-tops. It was a pine forest, and the +trees were as straight as an arrow, and so tall that their tops almost +seemed among the clouds. The moaning of the wind among the topmost +branches sounded like the distant roar of the sea. Birds were skipping +merrily among the "tasselled boughs," and curiously eying the young +strangers who had invaded their solitude. + +"O, how I wish I had that gun now!" said Oscar, as a fine plump robin +lit on one of the lower branches of a tree right over his head. + +In repay for this generous wish, Signor Robin executed one of his +choicest songs in his handsomest style, and, without waiting for an +encore from his audience, darted off and was quickly out of sight. But +it is probable the audience thought more of the "good shot" he +presented, than of the sweet strains he poured forth for their +entertainment. + +"There's better game than that in these woods," said Jerry, after the +robin had taken his departure. + +"Is there anything besides birds?" inquired Oscar. + +"Yes," replied Jerry, "there are rabbits, and woodchucks, and weasels, +and skunks, and squirrels; and some folks say there are wild-cats here, +but I don't know about that. Jim Oakley, a fellow who lives about a +mile from our house, comes over here gunning very often; and he says he +saw a real savage-looking creature here, a few weeks ago, that he took +to be a wild-cat. He fired at it, but it got clear of him. He says it +looked a good deal like a cat, only it was larger, and had a little +short tail. I wish he 'd killed it. I should like to know what it +was. I never saw a wild-cat; did you?" + +"No," replied Oscar. + +"But that was n't equal to something a man came across in the woods the +other side of these hills, two or three years ago," continued Jerry. +"What do you suppose it was?" + +"I don't know; was it a moose?" inquired Oscar. + +"No," replied Jerry; "moose come down into this neighborhood, once in +awhile, but that was n't what I was going to tell you about. There is +a road through these woods, a little beyond the hills. It is n't +travelled much, except by the loggers in the fall and spring. A man +was riding along this road, one afternoon in summer, when he suddenly +came across a monstrous black bear. As soon as the bear saw him, he +squat down on his haunches, right in the middle of the road, and began +to show his teeth. The man didn't dare to drive by him, and his horse +was so frightened that it was as much as he could do to hold him in. +He had a loaded revolver with him, but he knew there was n't much hope +of killing the bear with that. So he turned his horse about, and +concluded to go back to the nearest house, and get a gun and somebody +to help him kill the bear. The bear sat still, watching him, as much +as to say, 'If you'll let me alone, I 'll let you alone;' but just as +the man was starting up, he thought he would try his pistol, and so he +blazed away at the bear. Two or three of the shot hit the bear in the +shoulder. They did n't hurt him much, only enough to rouse his dander; +but he sprang up as quick as lightning, and started after the team. +The man whipped up his horse, and the bear 'pulled foot' after him, and +did n't give up the race till he had run about a quarter of a mile. +The man said if he had been afoot, the bear would have beat him at +running, but he could n't keep up with the horse. + +"Well, the man went back three or four miles, and got another man to go +with him in search of the bear. They armed themselves with guns and +hunting-knives; but when they drove back to where the man met the bear, +they could n't find anything of him. They traced his tracks into the +woods, but after awhile they lost them, and as it was getting late, +they gave up the hunt; and nobody hereabouts has seen that bear from +that day to this." + +"Perhaps he's about here now--who knows?" said Oscar. + +"No, I guess he went right back to the place he came from," replied +Jerry. "Somebody would have seen him, if he 'd stayed around here." + +"Where do you suppose he came from?" inquired Oscar. + +"From way back in the woods, fifty miles from here," replied Jerry. +"There had been great fires in the woods that summer, and I suppose he +got burned out, or frightened, and that was the reason he came down +this way." + +"I should like to meet such a customer," said Oscar; "only I should +want to have a good double-barrelled gun with me. I read in a +newspaper, the other day, about a boy up in New Hampshire, who met a +bear and two cubs, all alone in the woods. He had a gun with him, and +killed the old one, and one of the cubs, but the other cub got off. +That was doing pretty well, wasn't it?" + +"'Twas so," said Jerry; "but I guess you would n't have done quite so +well as that." + +"I bet I should have tried, at any rate," said Oscar, who really was +not deficient in courage, though he had hardly practiced hunting enough +to justify him in believing that he could master so savage an animal as +a bear. + +Having rested themselves, the boys resumed their journey, and after ten +minutes' hard work, reached the top of the range of hills. The highest +summit was a bare ledge of rock, and they concluded to climb to the top +of it, for the sake of the view to be obtained. It was called +"Prospect Rock," and was very appropriately named. As the boys stood +upon it, the country for miles around was spread out at their +feet,--houses, and cultivated fields, and forests, and roads, and +narrow streams. A distant mountain was visible in the west, which +Jerry said was about twenty miles off, though it seemed much nearer. +After enjoying the scene a few minutes, they began to descend the hill +on the other side. They kept their eyes open, for game, but they saw +only a few squirrels, and one rabbit, which bounded off, and was out of +sight in a moment. Jerry pointed out to Oscar a woodchuck's hole, near +the foot of the hill. + +"I should like to see a woodchuck," said Oscar; "what do they look +like?" + +"They 're about as big as a rabbit, and are of a brownish color," +replied Jerry. + +"Do you suppose there's one in that hole?" inquired Oscar; "let's see +if we can't scare him out." + +"I don't know whether there is or not," replied Jerry; "but if there +was, we could n't dig him out without shovels. They burrow real deep. +If we had brought a dog with us, how he would dig into that hole!" + +"I wish I had my Tiger here," said Oscar; "it's too bad father would +n't let me bring him with me." + +Oscar thrust his cane into the hole, but did not reach the end of it; +and if the occupant of the tenement was within, he did not think it +worth while to show himself. The boys accordingly renewed their +journey. After they had reached the foot of the hill, they had to +cross a swamp. With its wet and miry bottom, and its dense growth of +vines, bushes, and small trees, this was no easy matter; but they +succeeded in getting through with no damage save wet feet, a few slight +scratches, and a good many mosquito bites. This latter trouble was the +most serious of all. The mosquitoes were large and ferocious. They +bit right through jacket, vest, and all, and Oscar declared that their +sharp stings even penetrated his boots. + +After the boys emerged from the swamp, they came to the road in which +the man met a bear. They followed this road a short distance, till it +brought them to the shore of a large and beautiful pond. Leaving the +highway, they now walked along by the edge of the water, and soon came +to the old hut they were in pursuit of. It was but a few rods from the +pond, and was directly under the brow of a steep and rocky hill. It +had a very old and decayed appearance. The roof had fallen in, the +door had disappeared, and the single window was without sash or glass. +It contained but one apartment, and that was very small, and so choked +up with rubbish that the boys did not try to enter. + +"Well, that must have been a great place for a man to live in," said +Oscar, after he had inspected the premises. "How long has the old +fellow been dead?" + +"I don't know," said Jerry; "it must be fifteen years, for he died +before I was born." + +"I wonder what he lived here for; does anybody know?" inquired Oscar. + +"No, he was a hermit, and that's all anybody knows about him. They say +he used to have a garden, and raised everything he wanted to eat. In +the summer time he used to work a good deal for two or three farmers +that lived over at Cedar Hill, at the further end of the pond. He had +a little skiff, and rowed back and forth in that. He never used to +spend any money, and people say he must have had all of a thousand +dollars, that he had earned, when he died; but nobody knew what became +of it. They suppose he buried it about here somewhere, or hid it in +some rock." + +"A thousand dollars!" said Oscar; "I 'm going to hunt for that; what +will you bet I won't find it?" + +"Pooh!" replied Jerry, "people have searched all round here, and dug +holes, and pulled up the floor of the hut, more than a hundred times; +and I guess there's no danger of your finding the money now." + +"I 'm going to try, at any rate," said Oscar, and he get up from the +stone upon which he was seated. + +"Stop, don't go now," said Jerry; "let's make a fire and get dinner +first--I 'm just about half starved." + +Oscar fell in with this suggestion, and they gathered together a lot of +brush and other dry wood, and soon had a good fire kindled against a +large stone, which happened to be hollowed out something like a +fireplace. Among the provisions they had brought with them were half a +dozen potatoes, which they buried in the embers after the fire had got +well under way. While these were baking, they employed themselves in +gathering wood and watching the fire. They also found some slices of +cheese in their basket, which they toasted by holding it before the +fire upon the point of a sharp stick. When their preparations for +dinner were about completed, Oscar inquired: + +"Where shall we find some water to drink? Is there a spring about +here?" + +"Water, why, there's plenty of it," replied Jerry pointing to the pond. + +"What! you don't mean to drink pond water, do you?" said Oscar, +somewhat surprised. + +"Yes I do," replied Jerry; "that's good water--old Staples drank it all +the time he lived here." + +"Well, come to think of it, I suppose it is good," said Oscar; "for our +Cochituate water, in Boston, is nothing but pond water. It seems +queer, though, to dip it right out of the pond; but I suppose it is +just as good as though we drew it from an aqueduct." + +There was a tin dipper in the basket, and Oscar took it, and went down +to the pond, to try the water. He found it clear, and agreeable to the +taste, though not very cold. Filling the dipper, he returned to the +fire, where Jerry now had the dinner in readiness. They found a large +flat stone, which answered for a table, and spreading their provisions +upon it, they threw themselves upon the grass, and began to eat. The +potatoes were nicely roasted, and, indeed, all the articles that helped +to form their rural repast, tasted uncommonly well. Even the pond +water, Oscar confessed, would have been equal to the Cochituate, if +they had only had a little ice to put in it. + +[Illustration: The Dinner in the Woods.] + +After dinner, Oscar commenced his search for the hidden treasures, and +Jerry, impelled by sympathy, joined in the hunt, though with no very +sanguine expectations of finding the hermit's gold. They examined the +hut, and poked over the rubbish, within and about it. They walked over +the ground, around the cabin, turning over stones, looking after holes +in the trunks of trees, and peering curiously into every crack and +crevice they could find. They then climbed up the rocks behind the +hut, and patiently continued their search, talking earnestly, the +meanwhile, about what they should do with the money, if they found it. +Oscar said if he found the money, he should buy the best horse he could +find. He should not go to school any more, but should spend his time +in riding, and going to places of amusement. If his father did not +like it, he should leave home, and board at a hotel. Jerry, on the +other hand, wanted to see the world. If _he_ found the money, he was +going to travel all over the country. After visiting the great +Atlantic cities, he should go to California, and stop a few months, +just long enough to dig a few thousand dollars out of the mines--and +then he should push on to China, and India, and Europe, and come home +in one of the Collins steamers. It was finally agreed, however, that +if either of them found the treasure, it should be equally divided +between them, and with this friendly understanding, they renewed their +search, with fresh zeal. + +"It's real hot; what do you say about going into water?" inquired +Oscar, after they had ransacked the neighborhood pretty thoroughly, and +worked themselves into a perspiration. + +"I 'll go in if you will," said Jerry. "Father did n't tell us not to +go in to-day--I was afraid he would; but he did n't say anything about +it." + +"He need n't know it, if we do go in," suggested Oscar, who knew very +well that his uncle would not approve of his bathing so early in the +season, and so soon after his sickness. + +"No, he won't know anything about it," added Jerry; "and I don't +believe it can do us any hurt, for it is as warm as it is in the middle +of summer. I 've been into water many a time, when it was colder than +it is now." + +They did not debate the question long, but throwing off their clothes, +they soon plunged into the clear lake. The water did not feel quite so +warm to their bodies, as it tasted when they washed down their dinner +with it. Still, it was not very cold; and as the place was quite +convenient for bathing, having a hard, gravelly bottom, with a gradual +slope, they enjoyed their dip in the water as well as they _could_ +enjoy a forbidden gratification. + +After they had dressed themselves, they sat a little while with their +caps off, that the warm sun might dry their hair, and thus remove all +evidence of their stolen pleasure. This accomplished, they concluded, +from the position of the sun, that it was time to start for home; and +taking their basket and canes, they commenced their homeward march. +They met with no incident of any moment in returning, except that they +got off their course at one time; but Jerry, who was quite at home in +the woods, soon found where he was, and set himself right again. The +last two miles of their jaunt were the hardest of all, especially to +Oscar, who was more troubled with sore feet and stiff legs than Jerry. +They were both, however, as tired and hungry as need be, when they got +home. + +No questions were asked about their going into water. This was +fortunate, for it probably saved them from the additional guilt of +falsehood. They experienced no punishment for their disobedience, +except the consciousness that they had committed a wrong act. To some +boys, that alone would have been no slight punishment; but I fear this +was not the case with Oscar and Jerry. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +CLINTON. + +"Come, Jerry, let's go over to Clinton's this forenoon," said Oscar, +the morning after their excursion to the hermit's hut. + +"Agreed," replied Jerry, "we 'll start right away as soon as I can find +my cap. Let me see---where did I leave it, I wonder?" + +"Jerry," said Mrs. Preston, who overheard this conversation, "bring me +in an armfull of wood before you go." + +"I 'll get the wood while you 're looking for your cap," said Oscar, +and he started for the wood-house. + +Oscar almost repented of his offer when he discover ed that there was +no wood split. However, he took the axe and split a few logs, and +carried them into the kitchen. Jerry had not yet found his cap, though +he had searched all over the house for it. He began to suspect some +one had played a trick upon him by hiding his cap, and when Emily +laughed at his impatience, he concluded she was the guilty one. In +vain she protested that she had not seen the missing cap, and did not +know where it was. He searched every part of the girls' chamber, and +then, in his vexation, he pulled Emily's bonnet from off her head, and +tossed it out of the window into an apple-tree, in the branches of +which it lodged. + +It was now Emily's turn to fly into a pet, and she availed herself of +the opportunity. Running to her mother, she reported what Jerry had +done, setting off his foolish conduct in the worst possible light. +Jerry soon made his appearance in the kitchen, and retorted upon his +sister by charging her with having hid his cap. Mrs. Preston tried to +settle the difficulty by directing Jerry to get Emily's bonnet out of +the tree, and ordering Emily to tell Jerry where his cap was, if she +knew; but Emily protested she knew nothing about the cap, and her +brother did not seem inclined to obey his portion of the decree, while +his sister failed to comply with hers. The quarrel was thus becoming +more and more complicated, when Oscar suddenly entered the room with +the lost cap in his hand. + +"Here's your cap, Jerry," he said; "I found it just where you left it +last night, out in the barn. Don't you remember, you threw it at the +cat to scare her?" + +"Yes, so I did, and I forgot to pick it up again," said Jerry. + +"There, do you believe me now?" said Emily, with an air of triumph. + +Jerry did not stop to reply; but, going into the garden, he climbed the +apple-tree, and tossed the bonnet down to Emily. + +"Now I 'm ready to start, just as soon as I 've had a drink of +buttermilk," said Jerry to Oscar; "come into the buttery and get some, +won't you?" + +There was only one bowl-full of buttermilk left from the morning's +churning, but Mrs. Preston told the boys they might have that. Jerry +proposed that they should "go snacks," and gave the bowl to Oscar that +he might drink his share first. The latter took one mouthful, but +quickly spit it out, and puckered his face into all sorts of shapes. + +"Ugh!" he exclaimed, "you don't call that sour stuff good, do you?" and +he handed the bowl back to Jerry, with a look that would have soured +the buttermilk, if it had not already undergone that process. + +As soon as Jerry could get over laughing at his cousin's grimaces, he +swallowed the contents of the bowl, and then smacking his lips, said: + +"There, don't you think I like it? You just drink it a few times, and +then see if you don't like it, too. I could drink a quart of it now if +I had it." + +"You may have it, for all me; I don't want any more of it," replied +Oscar. + +"Jerry, have the hens been attended to?" inquired Mrs. Preston, as the +boys were about starting from home. + +"I don't know--I have n't fed them," replied Jerry. + +"You ought to know whether they are seen to or not; it's your business +to take care of them," said his mother. "Don't you go off this morning +till you have fed them. You ought to have done it an hour ago." + +The care of the fowls had been committed to Jerry, but he did not feel +much interest in them, and needed to be reminded of his duty pretty +often. His negligence had been more marked than ever since Oscar's +arrival, and more than once the hens had been without food and water +nearly a whole day because he forgot to attend to them. Jerry now went +back, in obedience to his mother, and gave the fowls their usual +allowance of corn, and a vessel of fresh water. He also looked into +the nests to see if there were any new-laid eggs; and he was not a +little surprised to find in one of them a small billet, neatly folded +up, and addressed, "_To Master Jerry_." He looked at it a moment, and +tried to imagine what it could be; then he opened it, and read the +following, which was neatly written with a pencil: + + +"THE HENROOST, June 12th. + +"MASTER JERRY:" + +"I have determined to write you a few words in behalf of my dear +suffering family. The sun is scorching hot, and yet we have not got a +drop of water to save us from parching up. My poor biddies have been +walking back and forth all day, panting for water, and calling for it +as plainly as they could speak; but all in vain. We have received our +food at very irregular times, too, and sometimes we have had to keep +fast nearly all day. If I were the only sufferer, I would say nothing +about it; but I cannot bear to see my poor flock dying by inches in +this way. Do take pity on us, and see that we have plenty of corn and +water hereafter. Some of my family, who pride themselves on being good +layers, complain that since you have kept us shut up in such narrow +quarters they cannot find anything to make their egg-shells of. Now, +if you would give us some old burnt bones, pounded up fine, or a little +lime, once in awhile, I do not think you would lose anything by it. +And as you will not let us go out to scratch for ourselves, what is the +reason that you cannot dig us a few worms occasionally? It would be a +great treat to us. I hope you will heed my suggestions. If you do +not, I can assure you of two things: you won't have many eggs this +summer; and fat chickens will be a scarce article in this neighborhood +next Thanksgiving time. But Mrs. Yellowneck has just laid an egg, and +I must help her cackle over it; so I will write nothing more at +present, but sign myself + +"Your faithful, but afflicted, + +"SHANGHAE ROOSTER." + + +Before Jerry had finished reading this mysterious letter, Oscar, who +wondered at his long absence, went to see what the matter was, and +found his cousin deeply absorbed in the document. After Jerry had read +it, he handed it to Oscar, telling him where he found it. + +"Well, that is queer," said Oscar, after he had read it. "Who do you +suppose wrote it?" + +"I know where it came from well enough," said Jerry; "keep dark--don't +say anything about it," he added, as he put the letter in his pocket. +Then stepping to the kitchen-window, he inquired, "Mother, was Clinton +over here yesterday?" + +"I believe he was," replied Mrs. Preston. + +"That accounts for it," said Jerry to Oscar; "that letter sounds just +like Clinton. I knew he wrote it just as soon as I saw it." + +"But can he write as well as that?" inquired Oscar. + +"Yes, he 's a very good writer," replied Jerry. "He ought to be, for +he has to get a lesson every day, just as though he went to school, and +recite to his mother in the evening. I wish I knew as much as he does, +but I should n't want to study so hard." + +They had now started on their way to Clinton's. The Shanghae letter +continued to be the topic of remark for some time. It was finally +concluded that they should say nothing to Clinton about it. To tell +the truth, Jerry felt a little mortified at the deserved rebuke he had +received, and he thought the easiest way to get over it would be, to +pretend that the letter had never reached its destination. + +Clinton Davenport, the suspected author of this letter, lived in the +nearest house to Mr. Preston's. The house is marked 1, on the map of +Brookdale. He was three or four months younger than Jerry, and, like +him, was an only son. They had been intimate playmates from early +childhood, though their tastes and dispositions were very different. +Clinton was an industrious boy. He liked to work, and took an interest +in all his father's plans and labors. He was an ingenious boy, too; +and, in addition to his other commendable traits, he was a good scholar. + +Oscar had seen Clinton once or twice, at Jerry's house, but this was +his first visit to him. They soon came in the sight of the house. It +was a neat, but plain cottage, situated near the foot of a hill. There +were several noble oaks around it, and fruit trees in the rear. +Luxuriant vines were trained around and over the front door. A large +and substantial barn stood a little one side, and back from the road, +with its great doors swung open. On a tall pole, behind the house, +there was a complete miniature of the cottage, which appeared to be +occupied by a family of birds, who were constantly flying back and +forth. This pretty birdhouse Clinton had made with his own hands the +previous winter. + +When Oscar and Jerry reached the house, they saw Clinton doing +something in the orchard, behind the buildings, and walked along +towards him. They found him employed in destroying caterpillars' +nests, in the apple-trees. He had a light ladder, with which he +ascended the trees; and having his hands protected by a pair of old +gloves, he swept down the nests, and destroyed the young caterpillars +by the hundred. + +"This is n't very pleasant work," said Clinton, "but it has got to be +done. I've been all over the orchard this morning, and this is the +last tree I 've got to examine. I shall be done in a few minutes, and +then I 'll walk around with you." + +"I should like to know where all these caterpillars come from," said +Oscar; "do they come up from the ground?" + +"No," replied Clinton. "A miller lays the eggs, the summer before, on +a branch of the tree, and there they stay till about the first of June; +then they hatch out, and build their nest. The nests look something +like tents, don't you see they do?" + +"Yes, so they do," said Oscar. + +"That's the reason they are called tent-caterpillars. There are three +or four hundred of them in every nest. In about a month from now, they +would all turn into millers, if nobody disturbed them, and lay millions +of eggs for next year's crop." + +"That 's curious--I 've learnt something new by coming here," said +Oscar. + +"There, I believe that's all," said Clinton, as he cast his eye over +the tree; "now come and see my turkeys." + +Jerry slyly winked at Oscar, and both thought of the Shanghae rooster's +letter; but they said nothing, and followed Clinton to a tree near the +barn, where there was a large, motherly hen, surrounded by her happy +brood. They were young turkeys, but it was all the same to the poor +simple hen. She had set four weeks upon the eggs from which they were +hatched, and no wonder she honestly believed they were her own +children. To confess the truth, they did look so much like chickens, +that a city boy like Oscar would hardly have suspected they were +turkeys, if he had not been told that they were. They were black, and +of about the size of chickens of their age. They had also the sharp, +piping cry of genuine chickens. But their necks were a little longer +than usual, and that was almost the only badge of their turkeyhood. +The hen was confined to the tree by a string, to prevent her roving +off. A barrel turned upon its side, served them for a house at night. + +There was another hen, confined under a tree near by, which was the +proud mother of a large brood of chickens. There were about +twenty-five of them, but though they now constituted one brood, they +were hatched by two hens. Clinton said he usually managed to set two +hens together, so that one of them might bring up all the chickens, +thereby saving some trouble for himself, as well as one hen's time, +which was of some value to him. Hens do not seem to have much +knowledge of arithmetic, and biddy was apparently unconscious of any +difference between twelve and five-and-twenty. + +A loud and prolonged "Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o" now attracted Oscar to +the hen-yard near by, behind the barn, where the rest of Clinton's +poultry were confined. It was a large enclosure, connected with a +shed, in which the fowls roosted and laid their eggs. Its occupants, +and indeed all the poultry on the place were the exclusive property of +Clinton, and he took the entire management of them in his own hands. +He raised the corn they consumed on a patch of ground his father gave +him for the purpose. He sold his eggs, chickens, and turkeys to whom +he pleased, and kept a regular account in a book of all his business +transactions. Of course, all the money he made was his own, and he +told Oscar he had nearly seventy-five dollars in the bank, which he had +earned in this way. + +"I don't see how you do it," said Jerry; "I could n't make anything +that way if I should try. I don't believe our hens more than pay their +way, if they do that." + +"If you should manage as I do, I guess you would make something," +replied Clinton. + +"No, it isn't my luck," said Jerry; "if I worked ever so hard, I should +n't be any better off for it." + +"I don't believe that," said Clinton; "there 's no luck about it. Any +boy could make out just as well as I have done, if he took the same +trouble. You try it, now, and see." + +"No, I shan't try, for I know just as well as I want to, how it would +turn out," replied Jerry. + +"How can you know if you never tried it?" inquired Clinton. + +Jerry did not answer this question, and perhaps he could not. He +preferred to comfort himself with the foolish plea of the lazy, that he +was not one of "the lucky ones," and it was useless for him to think of +succeeding in anything of that kind. + +Clinton did not make the most distant allusion to the Shanghae +Rooster's letter, although Jerry felt sure that he knew all about it. +The latter also avoided all reference to it. Oscar could hardly keep +from introducing the matter, but his cousin's injunction to "keep dark" +prevailed, and he was able to restrain his impatient tongue. + +The boys now took a look at the piggery, where they found several fat, +dignified grunters, together with a family of little squealers, who +seemed quite too clean and delicate to occupy such an enclosure. They +then went all over the great barn, which happened to be tenantless, the +cows being at pasture and the oxen and horse off at work. Oscar's +attention was attracted to a scrap cut from a newspaper, which was +pasted upon one of the posts of the horse's stall. It read as follows: + + "THE HORSE'S PRAYER. + + "Up hill, spare thou me; + Down hill, take care of thee; + On level ground, spare me not, + Nor give me water when I 'm hot." + + +Clinton said he found these lines in a newspaper about the time he +began to drive alone, and he stuck them up upon the stall that he might +not forget them. + +"Hallo, who is this?" inquired Oscar, as a little curly-haired girl of +six years came tripping into the barn. + +The little girl to whom the inquiry was addressed turned a shy and +roguish look towards the strange boy, and then edged along to Clinton, +and nestled her little hand in his. + +"Can't you tell him who you are?" inquired Clinton. "He came all the +way from Boston, where cousin Ettie and cousin Willie live. He 's +Jerry's cousin, and little Mary Preston's cousin. Now you'll tell him +what your name is, won't you?" + +"Annie Davenport--that's my name," she replied, in her artless, winning +way. + +"Then you're Clinton's sister, are you?" inquired Oscar. + +"Yes, and he 's my brother," she quickly added, with a proud look that +greatly amused the boys. + +"Did you say you have a cousin Willie in Boston, Clinton?" continued +Oscar. + +"Yes, Willie Davenport," replied Clinton. + +"I know him--he's about your size, is n't he? and his father is a +lawyer?" + +"Yes, that's him--why, I want to know if you know him?" + +"O yes; he goes to our school. The boys have nicknamed him Whistler, +because he whistles so much; but he 's a real clever fellow, for all +that. My brother Ralph is quite intimate with him. It's strange that +I never knew before that he had relations down here," added Oscar. + +"Do you know his sister, Ettie?" inquired Clinton. + +"No, I never saw her," replied Oscar. + +"Come into the house with me,--I must tell mother we 've heard from +Boston," said Clinton. + +They all entered the house, and Mrs. Davenport was soon informed of the +pleasant discovery they had made, and had many questions to ask +concerning her Boston friends. Oscar seemed to become at once an old +acquaintance. The fact that he was a schoolmate of Willie gave him a +direct passport to the good graces of all the family. When Oscar +called to mind his peculiar relations towards Willie, this unlooked-for +friendship was not particularly agreeable to him; for he was not, and +never had been, on very friendly terms with Clinton's cousin. This, +however, was more than he dared say to Clinton, and so he concealed his +dislike of Willie as well as he could. + +After sitting in the house a little while, Clinton invited Oscar and +Jerry into the "shop," which was a room back of the kitchen, where Mr. +Davenport kept a variety of carpenter's tools. Here, in cold and +stormy weather, Clinton's father mended his broken tools and +implements, and performed such other jobs as were required. Clinton, +too, spent many odd moments at the work-bench, and patient practice had +made him quite a neat and skilful workman. He showed the boys several +boxes, a pine table, and a cricket, made entirely by his own hands, +which would have done no discredit to a regular carpenter. + +After remaining an hour or two with Clinton, Oscar and Jerry started +for home, well pleased with their visit. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE LETTER. + +"Oscar, you have n't written home since you came down here, have you?" +inquired Mr. Preston one morning at the breakfast table. + +"No, sir," replied Oscar. + +"Well, you ought to write," added Mr. Preston; "your mother told you +to, and I suppose she has been looking for a letter every day for a +week or more. It's over a fortnight since you left home, and your +folks will feel anxious about you, if they don't hear from you soon. +You 'd better write a letter to them this morning, before you do +anything else, and then it will be out of the way. I shall either go +or send over to the post-office to-day, and the letter will start for +Boston to-morrow morning, and get there the next day." + +"O dear, I hate to write," said Oscar. "Why can't you write to mother, +aunt, and tell her how I am?" + +"No, no," said Mr. Preston, "that won't do. You promised your mother +that you would write yourself, and she 'll expect to hear from you, and +not from somebody else. Your aunt can write, if she chooses, but you +must write too. I 'll give you a pen and some paper and ink after +breakfast, and you can write just a much as you please." + +"I guess it won't be much--I don't know how to write a letter," replied +Oscar. + +"A boy of your age not know how to write a letter--and been all your +lifetime to such grand schools as they have in Boston, too! I don't +believe that," said Mr. Preston, shaking his head. + +"I shall have to go and see the Shanghae Rooster," said Oscar, looking +at Jerry very knowingly. + +Jerry laughed at this allusion, but the others did not appear to +understand its meaning. It was evident that they were innocent of all +knowledge of the mysterious letter; and as Jerry wished them to remain +so, he adroitly turned the remark by replying: + +"No you won't--father has got plenty of steel pens." + +After breakfast, Mr. Preston told Oscar to follow him. They went up +stairs, and Mr. P. took a key from his pocket, and unlocked the door of +what was known by the name of "the private room." It was a very small +apartment, and was originally designed for a closet or store-room; but +Mr. Preston now used it as a sort of office. Here he kept his business +papers, and here he did what little writing he had to do. There was +one window in the room, which looked out upon the garden in the rear of +the house. The furniture consisted of a chair, a small portable desk, +placed upon a table, an old map of the State of Maine, a dictionary, +almanac, and several other odd volumes and pamphlets. + +"There," said Mr. Preston, "you may sit right down to my desk, and +write as long as you please, if you won't disturb my papers. There are +paper, ink, pens, and wafers--you can use what you want. When you get +done, lock the door, and give the key to your aunt." + +Oscar found there was no backing out from a letter this time; so he sat +down, and tried to make up his mind to face the dreaded duty. He heard +his uncle tell the children not to interrupt him, till he had finished +his letter; and when Mr. Preston and his man James went off to work, +Jerry accompanied them. Oscar was thus left to himself. After +thinking about the matter a few moments, he dipped his pen in the +ink-stand, and, having consulted the almanac, wrote the proper date for +the letter, together with the address, "Dear Mother." Here he came +suddenly to a stand. He was at a loss how to commence. He sat +uneasily in his chair, now nibbling the end of the pen-holder, and now +running his fingers slowly through his hair, as if to coax out the +thoughts he wished to express. + +At length he got started, and wrote several lines without stopping. +Now he thought he should go ahead without further trouble; but he soon +found himself again brought to a dead halt. He began to scribble and +draw rude figures upon a piece of waste paper, hoping the next +sentence, in continuance of his letter, would soon pop into his head; +but instead of anything popping in, his ideas began to pop out, so that +he almost forgot the letter, amid the unmeaning flourishes his pen was +making. Then, suddenly thinking of the scarcely-commenced task before +him, he read and re-read the few lines he had written, but could not +determine what to say next. Lifting up the lid of the desk, he found a +variety of bills, receipts, accounts and letters scattered about. +Disregarding the injunction of his uncle, and in violation of one of +the plainest rules of good breeding, he concluded to open one of the +letters, and see if he could not gain some hint from it, to aid him in +completing his own. The letter he opened proved to be a short business +message, and it was written in such a difficult hand, that he could not +read half the words. He then looked into several other letters, but +none of them afforded him any aid. + +After idling away half an hour in this manner, he resumed his letter, +and began to make some progress upon it, when the lively chirping and +twittering of a party of birds in an apple-tree near the window, +attracted his attention. He laid down his pen, and watched their +movements awhile. They were swallows; and from their actions, Oscar +soon discovered that the old birds were teaching their little ones how +to fly. There were several nests of these swallows, under the rafters +of Mr. Preston's barn; and as they had recently had accessions to their +families, Oscar concluded this must be the first appearance of the +new-comers in public. The old birds fluttered back and forth, +twittering and talking to the young ones all the while, and trying to +entice them to commit themselves again to their wings. The little +fearful things looked doubtingly, first one way and then another, as +though they would gladly launch away upon their destined element, if +they were only sure they should not tumble ingloriously to the ground. +The clamor of the old ones increased every moment. They called and +coaxed more earnestly, and fluttered more impatiently, until at length +the young birds worked up their courage to the requisite point, and +away the whole flock darted, towards the barn. + +Now that the swallows were out of his way, Oscar returned to his letter +once more. Had he learned a lesson of self-confidence from the example +of the little swallows, the few minutes he spent in watching their +movements would have been well employed. But instead of his confidence +increasing, he was now almost sick of the sight of the letter, and +began to doubt whether he should ever finish it. While he was +hesitating whether he had better tear it up, or try once more to go on +with it, a sweet childish voice from the garden engaged his attention. +He looked from the window, and saw little Mary sitting down upon the +grass, in a shady spot, with a large book open before her. She was +looking at the engravings in the volume, and was talking very earnestly +to herself, and to the figures in the pictures. + +"There is Emily," she was saying, "and there is father with a shovel; +and this one is me, and that is Jerry, and that's Oscar, carrying a +basket. I guess they 're going to dig potatoes. O, what lots of +houses over the other side of the pond; and there 's one, two, three, +five, ten, eight meeting-houses, too. It must be Boston, I guess, +there are so many houses there. And there's a great boat coming--O +what a smoke it makes!--and it's got wheels, too. Now we'll get right +into it, and go and see Uncle Henry and all the folks. Stop, stop, you +boat! Now that's too bad--it goes by, and we can't go to Boston." + +[Illustration: Mary and the Picture-Book.] + +Thus little Mary continued to talk to the pictures and to herself, +unconscious that any one was listening to her. She was a pretty child, +and, all unknown to herself, she made almost as attractive a picture as +any in her book, with her fair face, her flowing hair, and her clean +dress, set off by the green grass and climbing vines around her. Oscar +sat listening to her childish prattle for some time, when the striking +of the kitchen clock reminded him that he had been seated at the desk +an hour, and had not yet written a dozen lines. He was about to tear +up the sheet of paper over which he had sat (but not labored) so long, +and give up the attempt. Then he thought of his promise to write, and +how ashamed he should feel to have his uncle's folks know that he had +tried a whole hour, and could not write a letter to his own mother. He +finally determined to make one more attempt. + +Finding that the sound of Mary's voice disturbed him, Oscar now shut +down the window, and thus cut off all communication with the outer +world, except by the eye. He soon got under way again with his letter, +and, to his own surprise, he went along quite easily and with +considerable rapidity. The reason of this was, he was now really in +earnest, and had given his mind wholly to the letter. Before, his +thoughts were flitting from one trifle to another; now they were +directed to the object he wished to accomplish. Before the clock +struck the next hour, the letter was finished, sealed, and directed. +It was quite a respectable sort of a letter, too. When he had got +through, Oscar was himself surprised to find that he could write so +good an epistle. The spelling, punctuation, and penmanship might have +been improved, but in other respects the letter was creditable to him. +I will print it as he intended it should read, and not precisely as he +wrote it: + + +"BROOKDALE, June 15, 185--. + +"DEAR MOTHER: + +"I suppose you are looking for a letter from me, and I meant to have +written before this, but somehow I have neglected it. I got here safe +the next day after I left home. We stopped one night in Portland, and +put up at the ---- Hotel. The next day we rode in the cars all the +forenoon, and in the stage all the afternoon. The stage does not go +within five miles of uncle's, but Jerry went over with a horse and +wagon to get us. I like Brookdale first-rate. It is a real +countryfied place, but I like it all the better for that. The nearest +house to uncle's is half a mile off; and, by the way, tell Ralph that a +cousin of Whistler's lives there. His name is Clinton Davenport. I +have got acquainted with him, and like him very much. I like Jerry, +too. We have capital times together. All the boys here are rather +'green,' as we say in Boston; and you would laugh at the ideas they +have of city things; but I suppose they think I am green about country +things, and so we are square. I have lots of rides, and good long +walks, too. A few days ago, Jerry and I walked four or five miles +through the woods and pastures, to an old hut where a hermit used to +live. They say he was a miser, and buried his money there, and people +have dug for it, but nobody has found it. We carried our provisions, +and made a fire, and ate dinner there. There is a fine pond close by, +where we got our water to drink. + +"There are lots of birds here. We are going to set some snares in the +woods, and catch some. There are some swallows' nests in uncle's barn, +just over the door. You can look right up into them, and see the +birds. They are quite tame. They are just making their young ones +learn how to fly. It is real amusing to see them. + +"Uncle has quite a large farm. I forget how many acres he told me +there was, but it is a good many. They have cows, and pigs, and hens, +and live in real country style. I have learned how to make butter, but +I have not learned to like buttermilk yet. I can't bear it, but all +the other folks think it is a great treat. The schools don't keep here +but three months in the winter, so Jerry and I are together about all +the time. We sleep together, too. I almost forgot to tell you that I +have got quite strong and hearty again. My cough is gone, and aunt +says I look a good deal better than I did when I came here. I want to +hear from home, but I hope you won't send for me to go back just yet. +But I am tired of writing, and must close up my letter. Excuse errors +and bad writing. Give my love to all the family, including Tiger. + +"Your affectionate son, + +"OSCAR." + + +Oscar felt quite relieved when his letter was ready for the +post-office. Having locked up the little room, he carried the key to +his aunt. + +"Have you written your letter?" inquired Mrs. Preston. + +"Yes, ma'am," replied Oscar. + +"Where is it? You 're going to let me read it, aint you?" inquired +Emily. + +"There it is," said Oscar, taking the letter from his jacket pocket; +"but I guess you won't read it, miss." + +"Yes, do let me read it," persisted Emily, who really had an undue +proportion of inquisitiveness in her nature. + +"No, I can't; it's sealed up," replied Oscar. + +"Then tell me what you wrote, won't you?" continued Emily. + +"Why, you silly child, what business is it to you what he wrote?" said +her mother. "Don't ask any more such foolish questions; Oscar will +think you have n't got common sense if you do." + +"Did you write anything about me?" continued Emily, in a lower tone. + +"Did you hear me, Emily?" inquired Mrs. Preston, in a sharper tone. + +"O no, I did n't write much," said Oscar, in reply to Emily; "there's +nothing in the letter that you would care about seeing." + +"I did n't know you were going to seal up the letter so soon. I wanted +to send a message to Alice and Ella," continued Emily. + +"You are too late now," replied Oscar; "but I 'll give you a chance +next time. What message do you want to send?" + +"You must n't be so inquisitive," said Emily, with a laugh; "just as +though I were going to tell you, when you would n't let me read the +letter!" + +"Well, I can tell you one thing,--I don't want to know," replied Oscar. +"Aunt Eliza, do you know where Jerry is?" + +"He has gone with his father down to the meadow lot," replied Mrs. +Preston. "I guess they will be back before a great while." + +Oscar set out for the "meadow lot," which was a quarter of a mile from +the house, on the other side of the river. He had not gone far, +however, when he met Mr. Preston and Jerry returning. + +"I 've written my letter, uncle, and it's all ready to go to the +post-office," said Oscar; "can't Jerry and I carry it over?" + +"I 'll see about that this afternoon," said Mr. Preston; "I 've got +something else for Jerry to do now." + +"I 'm going over to the old wood-lot to get a load of mulching," said +Jerry to Oscar; "and you can go too, if you want to." + +"Mulching--what is that?" inquired Oscar. + +"It's stuff that they put around young trees, to keep the roots from +drying up in summer," replied Jerry. "You know all those small apple +and pear trees back of the barn? well, it's to put around them." + +Having reached the house, the boys ate some luncheon, and then +proceeded to tackle Billy into the hay-cart. After Mr. Preston had +given Jerry sundry cautions and directions, which the latter seemed to +think quite unnecessary, the boys hopped into the cart, and drove off +towards the woods. Mr. Preston owned several tracts of woodland in +Brookdale. The lot to which the boys were going, was called the "old" +one, because the wood had all been cut off once, and it was now covered +with a young growth, not large enough for firewood. It was but a short +distance from the house, and the boys soon reached the spot, and +commenced operations. They were each provided with large jack-knives, +and with these they proceeded to lop off the young and tender ends of +the birches, which trees were quite abundant in that spot; for birches +are very apt to spring up after a pine forest has been cleared away. +Many of the trees were yet so small, that the boys did not have to +climb up to reach the branches. + +Though all this was really work, it seemed so much like play to Jerry +and Oscar, that they actually _forgot to be lazy_. The consequence +was, the job was done before they thought of it. Gathering up the +heaps of small twigs scattered around them, they threw them into the +cart, and found they had quite a respectable load; respectable in bulk +at least, though not a very heavy burden for Billy. Taking their seats +upon the top of the mulching, which was almost as soft as a load of +hay, they drove back to the barn, and alighted. Mr. Preston now +appeared, and led the horse into the orchard, where, with the aid of +the boys, he scattered the birch twigs around the young trees, so as to +protect their roots from the fierce heat of the sun. There was not +enough for all the trees, but he told them they need not get any more +at that time. + +After dinner, Mr. Preston said he should have to go over to the +Cross-Roads himself, as he wanted to see a man who lived there; but he +told Oscar he might go with him, if he wished. Oscar accepted the +invitation, and they were soon on their way, leaving Jerry not a little +disappointed that he could not go with them. Oscar handed his letter +to the postmaster, who marked it with the stamp of the office, and +deposited it in the mail-bag, Mr. Preston stopped to purchase a few +articles in the shop where the post-office was kept. When he was ready +to start, he inquired: + +"Have you mailed your letter, and paid your postage, Oscar?" + +"I 've mailed it, but I did n't pay the postage," replied Oscar. + +"That was n't right," said his uncle; "when you mail a letter to a +friend, you should always pay the postage. If you pay it now, in +advance, it will be only three cents; but if the postage is not paid +till the letter is delivered, it will be five cents." + +"I did n't think of that," said Oscar; "I wonder if it is too late to +pay it now? I 'll go and see." + +On making known his request, the postmaster drew forth the letter from +the bag, and imprinted another stamp upon it. Oscar paid the three +cents, and departed, with his uncle. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE RECALL. + +Oscar was bent upon going a-gunning. He had allowed his mind to dwell +upon the idea, until it seemed to him as though he could no longer +resist the impulse to play the sportsman, without a sacrifice of his +happiness. His uncle, it is true, had tried to dissuade him from it, +and had positively refused to lend him his gun. But there were other +guns in Brookdale, and everybody was not so particular as Mr. Preston +about trusting boys with fire-arms. Why could n't he borrow a gun of +somebody else? So he asked himself; and by-and-bye he put the same +question to Jerry. Jerry heartily entered into the proposal. He +thought Jim Oakley would lend him a gun. At any rate, he was not +afraid to ask him. Jim was a famous gunner, in that region. He had +several fowling-pieces; and if he would not lend them his best rifle, +it was not likely that he would refuse them one of his old guns. So +Jerry reasoned, and Oscar fully agreed with him. They went to see Jim, +that very afternoon, and by dint of teasing, they got the gun, together +with a small quantity of powder and shot. Thus armed, they set out for +the woods, in quest of game. + +They had been in the woods but a short time, and had not yet shot +anything, though they had fired several charges, when a dispute arose +between them about the gun. Jerry claimed a right to it half the time, +on the ground that he had borrowed it. Oscar was willing that he +should use the gun occasionally, but he resisted his claim to it half +the time. He contended that the gun was loaned to him, and besides, he +had agreed to pay the owner for all the ammunition they used. The +dispute waxed warmer and warmer. Oscar was obstinate, and Jerry grew +sulky. It was the first serious difficulty that had arisen between +them. Neither of them, as yet, knew the other's temper, but now they +were in a fair way of finding each other out. It was the clashing of +two strong wills. Oscar soon saw that their sport was at an end for +that day, and throwing down the gun and powder flask upon the grass, he +said, in an angry tone: + +"There, take the old thing, and do what you please with it; and when +you carry it back, see that you pay for the powder, for I won't." + +So saying, he turned upon his heel and walked off. He had not gone far +when Jerry, who had picked up the gun, called out: + +"Here! you 've broken the trigger, throwing it down so. You may carry +it back yourself now, I won't." + +"I shan't carry it back," replied Oscar; "you say he lent it to you, +and you may take care of it now." + +Oscar went back to his uncle's, leaving Jerry and the gun to keep each +other company. Not feeling in a very pleasant mood, Oscar did not go +into the house, but loitered around the barn, avoiding the family as +much as he could. Pretty soon he saw Clinton driving up, and he +stepped inside of the barn, as he did not care about speaking with him. +Clinton stopped however, when opposite to the barn, and called to him. + +"What would you give for a letter from home?" said Clinton, when Oscar +made his appearance. + +"I don't know--why, have you got one for me?" inquired Oscar, with +remarkable coolness. + +"That's for you, I guess," said Clinton, handing him a letter. "I 've +been over to the post-office, and as I happened to see a letter +directed to you, I thought I would take it along with me." + +"That's right, I'm glad you did," said Oscar, taking the letter. "Much +obliged to you for your trouble," he added, as Clinton drove off. + +Oscar now went into the barn, and, seating himself upon a stool, opened +and read his letter. It was from his mother. She acknowledged the +receipt of his letter, and expressed much gratification at hearing that +he was well and enjoying himself. His father, she wrote, thought he +had better return home, and resume his place at school, from which he +had been absent nearly three months. The term would close in about a +month, and he wanted Oscar to be prepared to enter the High School at +that time. Then followed various little messages from the children, +directions about his journey home, &c. In closing, she requested him +to return that week, that he might be ready to go to school the +following Monday. + +Oscar was not very much pleased with the contents of the letter. He +did not expect to be recalled so suddenly. He had hoped that, at any +rate, he should not be sent to school again that term. But, his plans +and hopes were all overturned by this letter. He went into the house, +and told the news to his aunt, who expressed regret that he was to +leave so soon. + +By-and-bye Jerry came home, but he brought the same scowl upon his face +that Oscar left with him up in the woods. Oscar, too, was as "stuffy" +as ever. No words passed between the two, and each seemed bent upon +giving the other a wide berth. At the supper table, something was said +about Oscar's letter, and his going home; but Jerry was too obstinate +to ask any questions, and so he remained in tormenting uncertainty in +regard to the matter. Oscar, too, had some curiosity about the gun, +but he did not intend to "speak first," if he never spoke again to his +cousin. + +During the whole evening, Oscar and Jerry were at the opposite poles of +the little family circle. When Oscar retired for the night, he found +Jerry not only abed, but asleep, or pretending to be. It was a wonder +that both did not tumble out of bed that night; for each slept upon the +extreme edge of the mattress, as far as possible from the other. + +When Oscar awoke in the morning, he found himself alone, Jerry having +quietly arisen and slipped out of the room, without disturbing him. +They did not see each other until they met at the breakfast table. +Here, their sober and quiet demeanor, so unusual with them, soon +attracted notice. + +"See how down in the mouth Jerry is!" said Emily. "He looks as though +he had lost all his friends. And Oscar does n't look much better +either, poor fellow!" + +Both boys changed color, and looked queerly, but they said nothing. + +"Never mind, boys," said Mrs. Preston, "you 've got one day more to +enjoy yourselves together. You 'd better make the most of that, while +it lasts, and not worry about the separation till the time comes." + +"That's good doctrine," said Mr. Preston; "never borrow trouble, for it +comes fast enough any way. Come, cheer up, Oscar, you have n't gone +yet." + +"It's too bad to make me go home so soon--I thought I was going to stay +here a month or two," said Oscar, who was very willing that his unusual +demeanor should be attributed entirely to his summons home. + +"You must ask your father to let you come down and spend your +vacation," said Mr. Preston. "I expect to go up to Boston about that +time, and I guess he will let me bring you home with me." + +"I should like to come," said Oscar, "but I don't believe father will +let me, it's so far." + +"O yes, he will, when he knows what good friends you and Jerry are," +replied Mr. Preston. + +"Jerry 's crying, as true as I 'm alive!" exclaimed Emily, who had been +watching the workings of her brother's face for several moments, and +thought she saw moisture gathering in his eye. + +"No I aint, either!" replied Jerry, in such a prompt and spiteful tone, +and with such a scowl upon his face, that all the others, including +even Oscar, joined in a hearty laugh. + +"I hope you feel good-natured," said his mother; "Oscar's going off +seems to have had a queer effect upon you." + +"I don't care, you 're all picking upon me--it's enough to make anybody +cross," said Jerry, in a surly tone. + +"You're mistaken--nobody has picked upon you," replied his mother. + +"Yes, you have, too," responded Jerry. + +"Jerry! don't let me hear any more of that--not another word," said Mr. +Preston, sternly. + +"Then you 'd better make Emily hold her tongue," said Jerry. + +"Hush! do you hear me?" said Mr. Preston, with considerable excitement. + +Jerry undertook to mutter something more, when his father jumped up, +and, taking him by the collar, led him to the cellar-door, and told him +to go down and stay until he was sent for. Then, shutting the door, +and turning the button, he resumed his seat at the table, and the +family finished their meal in silence. + +Jerry was released from his confinement soon after breakfast; but the +unfortunate affair at the table continued to weigh heavily upon his +mind. Throughout the rest of the day, he kept out of everybody's way, +and said nothing, but looked sour, cross, and wretched. Oscar, too, +felt very unpleasantly. He found it hard work to amuse himself alone. +He was a boy of strong social feelings, and abhorred solitary rambles +and sports. It was a long and dull day, and when he retired to bed at +night, he almost felt glad that it was his last day in Brookdale. + +Soon after he had got into bed, Jerry, who had retired before him, +called out: + +"Oscar!" + +"What?" inquired the other. + +There was a long pause, during which Jerry hitched and twisted about, +as if hesitating how to proceed. He at length inquired: + +"Are you mad with me?" + +"No," replied Oscar, somewhat reluctantly, and in a tone that was +almost equivalent to "yes." + +"I don't want you to go off without making up with me," added Jerry; +and as he spoke, his voice trembled, and had it been light enough, +Oscar might have detected something like moisture in those very eyes +that had flashed in anger at Emily in the morning, for reporting the +same thing of them. + +"I 'm ready to make up with you," replied Oscar, turning over toward +Jerry. + +Having thus broken the ice, the constraint and reserve that had existed +between them since the previous day, gradually melted away, and they +were once more on sociable terms, although their intercourse was not +quite so free and unembarrassed as it was before their quarrel. In +fact, they did not properly heal up the difficulty between them, +inasmuch as neither made any confession or apology--a duty that both +should have performed, as they were about equally guilty. Oscar's +first inquiries were concerning the gun. Jerry told him that he +carried it home, and that the owner was quite angry, when he saw the +damage it had sustained, but said nothing about making the boys pay for +it. + +The next morning the family arose at an earlier hour than usual, as +Oscar had got to be on his way soon after sunrise. It was decided that +Jerry should drive him over to the Cross-Roads. Accordingly, after a +hasty breakfast, he bade them all good-bye, one by one, and taking a +seat in the wagon with Jerry, started for home. It was delightful, +riding while the birds were yet singing their morning songs, and the +grass was spangled with dew, and the cool air had not felt the hot +breath of the sun; but the separation that was about to take place, and +the unpleasant recollection of their recent quarrel, lessened their +enjoyment of the ride very much. They reached the Cross-Roads nearly +half an hour before the stage-coach came along. At length it drove up +to the post-office, and Oscar, mounting to the top, took a seat behind +the driver. The mail-bag was handed to the driver, and the coach +started again on its way, Oscar bowing his farewell to Jerry, as they +drove off. + +[Illustration: The Stage Coach.] + +Nothing of special interest occurred the forenoon's ride. The coach +reached its destination about eleven o'clock and Oscar had barely time +enough to brush the dust from his clothing, and to obtain a drink of +cold water, when the signal was given for the cars to start, and he +took his seat in the train. His thoughtful aunt had placed a liberal +supply of eatables in the top of his valise, and to that he now had +recourse, for his long ride had given him a sharp appetite. There were +but few passengers in the train when it started, but at almost every +station it received accessions. + +On reaching Portland, Oscar found that he had nearly half an hour to +spare, before taking the Boston train; for it was his intention to "go +through" in one day, which his early start enabled him to do. After +treating himself to a few cakes, which he purchased at a refreshment +stand in the depôt, he walked about until it was time to take his seat +in the cars. + +The clock struck three, and the train started. One hundred and eleven +miles seemed to Oscar a long distance to travel, at one stretch, +especially after riding all the forenoon; and, indeed, he did begin to +feel quite tired, long before he reached the end of the journey. To +add to his uneasiness, a particle of cinder from the locomotive flew +into his eye, and lodged there so firmly that all his efforts to remove +it were in vain. In a little while, the eye became quite painful, and +he was obliged to keep it closed. A kind-looking gentleman, who sat +near him, noticed his trouble, and offered to assist him in removing +the mote; but it was so small that he could not find it. He advised +Oscar not to rub the inflamed organ, and told him he thought the +moisture of the eye would soon wash out the intruder, if left to +itself. Oscar tried to follow this advice, but the pain and irritation +did not subside, and he closed his eyes, and resigned himself to +darkness. + +The nine o'clock bells of Boston were ringing, as Oscar left the depôt +and turned his steps homeward. He hurried along through the familiar +streets, and had just turned the corner from which his home was in +sight, when somebody jumped suddenly from a dark passage-way, and +seized him by the hand. It was Ralph, who had been on the watch for +his brother half an hour, and, concealed himself just as he saw him +approaching. Each gave the other a cordial greeting, and then they +hastened into the house, where Oscar found the rest of the family +waiting to receive him. The general commotion that followed his +arrival, aroused Tiger from the comfortable nap he was taking on a mat, +and on hearing the well-remembered tones of his master's voice, he +sprang toward Oscar, and nearly knocked him over with his +demonstrations of welcome. + +So Oscar was at home again; and from the welcome he received, he +learned that there is pleasure in getting back from a journey as well +as in setting out upon one. His inflamed eye soon attracted the notice +of his mother, and she examined it to see if she could detect the cause +of the irritation; but the troublesome atom was invisible. She then +said she would try the eye-stone, and, going to the drawer, she got a +small, smooth, and flat stone, and told Ella to go down into the +kitchen and bring up a little vinegar in a saucer. On putting the +stone into the vinegar, it soon began to move about, as though it were +possessed of life. When it had become sufficiently lively, Mrs. +Preston wiped it dry, and put it between the lid and ball of Oscar's +inflamed eye. After it had remained there a few minutes, he allowed it +to drop into his hand, and on a close-examination, he found that it had +brought with it the offending substance that had caused him so much +pain. It was a little black speck, so small that it was barely +perceptible to the unaided eye. It now being quite late, Mrs. Preston +thought that further inquiries and answers concerning Oscar's visit had +better be deferred till morning, and the family soon retired to their +beds. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +DOWNWARD PROGRESS + +The next day was Saturday. Oscar was off most of the day with his +comrades, among whom he was quite a lion for the time. During one of +the brief intervals that he was in the house, his mother said some +thing about his going to school on Monday. + +"O dear, I don't want to go to school again this term," said Oscar. +"What's the use? Why, it 's only four or five weeks before the term +will be through." + +"I know that," replied his mother, "but your father is very anxious +that you should get into the High School, and he thinks you can do it +if you finish up this term." + +"I can't do it--I 've got all behindhand with my studies," said Oscar. + +"O yes, you can if you try," replied his mother. "You might have got +into the High School last year if you had studied a little harder. You +were almost qualified then, and I'm sure you ought to be now. If you +find you are behind your class in your lessons, you must study so much +the harder, and you 'll get up with them by-and-bye." + +"But I don't believe it will do me any good to be confined in the +school-room," continued Oscar. "I don't think I'm so strong as I was +before I was sick." + +"Well," said Mrs. Preston, "when you 're sick you need not go to +school; but I guess there 's no danger of your staying at home for that +reason, at present. You never looked better in your life than you do +now." + +Oscar tried his pleas again in the evening with his father, but with +quite as poor success. He saw that it was fully determined that he +should resume his seat at school, and he reluctantly submitted to this +decision. When Monday morning came, he proceeded to school, but found +that his old desk was in possession of another boy. The head teacher +in Oscar's department soon appeared, and seemed quite glad to see him +once more. He appointed Oscar a new seat, and told him he hoped he +would study so diligently as to make up for lost time. + +The hopes of Oscar's teacher and parents were doomed to disappointment. +It was soon evident that he cared less about his lessons than ever. He +was behind his class, and instead of redoubling his efforts to get up +with them, he became discouraged and indifferent. His recitations were +seldom perfect, and often they were utter failures. His teachers +coaxed, and encouraged, and ridiculed, and frowned, and punished, all +in vain. One day, after Oscar had blundered worse than usual, the +teacher who was hearing the recitation said to him, in a despairing +tone: + +"You remind me, Oscar, of what one of the old Roman emperors said to an +archer who shot his arrows a whole day, and never once hit the mark. +He told him he had a most wonderful talent for missing. So I must say +of you--you 've got the greatest talent for missing of any boy I know." + +Seeing a smile on the faces of Oscar's classmates, he added: + +"But this is too sober a matter to make light of. If you could not get +your lessons, it would be a different matter; but I know, and you know, +that this is not the trouble. You are quick enough to learn and to +understand, when you have a mind to be. If you would only try to get +your lessons as hard as the other boys do, you would n't be at the foot +of the class a great while. If you keep on in this way, you will see +your folly as plainly as I see it now, before you are many years older." + +This admonition had little effect upon Oscar. When school was +dismissed, a few minutes after, he rushed out with as light a step as +any of his comrades, and his gay laugh was heard as soon as he reached +the entry. In the general scramble for caps, one had fallen from its +peg, and instead of replacing it, two or three of the boys were making +a football of it. Oscar joined the sport, and gave the cap a kick that +sent it part of the way down stairs. A moment after, he met Willie +Davenport returning with it. + +"Halloo, Whistler, that is n't your cap, is it?" inquired Oscar. + +"No, but it's _somebody's_," said the good-hearted boy, as he brushed +off the dust, and put the lining back into its place. He was about +hanging it up, when Benny Wright appeared, and claimed it as his +property. + +Had Oscar known that the cap was Benny's, he would not have made a +foot-ball of it. He remembered the kind epistle he received, when +sick, and the amusement it afforded him, when amusements were scarce. +Since his recovery, he had treated Benny with much more consideration +than before, and quite a kindly feeling had sprung up between them. + +Oscar's inattention to his studies was not his only fault at school. +His general behavior was worse than it had ever been before. Vexed +that he was compelled to return to school so near the expiration of the +term, it seemed as though he was determined to make as little +improvement in his studies, and as much trouble for his teachers, as he +could. He not only idled away his own time, but he disturbed other +boys who were disposed to study. He was repeatedly reproved and +punished, but reproof and punishment did no good; on the contrary, they +seemed rather to make him worse. The teachers at length gave him up as +incorrigible, and consoled themselves with the thought that his +connection with the school would cease in two or three weeks, at which +time his class would graduate. They still aimed to keep him in check, +during school hours, but they ceased spending their time and breath in +trying to bring about a reformation in his conduct. + +One day as the scholars were engaged in writing, the master, while +passing along among the boys, and inspecting their writing-books, +noticed that somebody had been spitting what appeared to be tobacco +juice, near Oscar's seat. This was a violation of the rules of the +school, and the teacher concluded not to let it pass unnoticed. Having +no doubt, from several circumstances, that Oscar was the offender, he +said to him: + +"Oscar, what are you chewing tobacco in school for, and spitting the +juice on the floor?" + +"I have n't chewed any tobacco this afternoon," replied Oscar. + +"What is it, then, that you have been spitting upon the floor?" +inquired the teacher. + +"I have n't spit upon the floor," replied Oscar. + +"Who did that?" continued the teacher, pointing to the puddle upon the +floor. + +"I don't know," said Oscar; "it was there when I took my seat." + +It was possible that Oscar told the truth, but the teacher had his +doubts. He might perhaps, have settled the matter at once by putting a +question to one or two of the boys who sat near the supposed offender +but as he always avoided the system of making one boy inform against +another, when he could properly do so, he took another course. He told +Oscar, if he had any tobacco in his mouth, or anywhere about his +person, to give it up to him. Oscar declared that he had none. + +"Let me look into your mouth," said the teacher. + +Oscar had a small piece of the weed in his mouth, which he tucked +behind his upper lip with his tongue, and then opened his mouth. The +teacher of course saw nothing but what belonged there. He _smelt_ +something, however, that left him no longer in doubt that Oscar had +told a falsehood. + +"I can't see your cud, but I can smell it plain enough," said the +master; "and I 'll examine your pockets, if you please." + +Oscar was far from pleased with this proposition, and tried to prevent +its being carried into effect. The master, however, easily overcame +the difficulties he put in the way, and running his hand into the +pocket which he seemed most anxious to defend, brought forth a piece of +tobacco large enough to kill a horse! + +"What is that?" he inquired, holding the contraband article before +Oscar. + +Oscar neither looked at it nor made any reply. + +"And you are the boy who said a moment ago that you had no tobacco +about you," continued the master "I declare I don't know what to do +with you. I have said and done all that I can to make a better boy of +you, and now I shall report this matter to your father, and let him +settle it with you. But I want you to remember one thing. When you +tell me a lie, you break God's law, and not mine; and you can't settle +the matter in full with me, or any other human being." + +The teacher then threw the piece of tobacco out of the open window, and +taking Oscar's writing-book, told him he would set a new copy for him. +He soon returned, with the following line written upon the top of a +clean page: + +"_Lying lips are abomination to the Lord._" + +As Oscar wrote this fearful sentence over and over again, he could not +fully escape the force of its meaning. It reminded him of his feelings +during his recent illness, when at times the terrible thought that his +sickness might possibly be unto death intruded upon his mind. But +thoughts of God, and death, and a future world, were alike unpleasant +to him, and he banished them as speedily as possible. + +During the afternoon, the principal of the school wrote a letter to Mr. +Preston, informing him of Oscar's indolence and bad conduct, and +referring particularly to the incident that had just occurred. By way +of offset to the complaint, he spoke in very high terms of Ralph, who +attended the same school, but was in another department and another +room. He sent the letter by Ralph, but told him not to let Oscar know +anything about it. Ralph had some suspicions of the nature of the +letter, but he did his errand faithfully, going directly from school to +his father's store. + +Mr. Preston was at first very much irritated by the teacher's +complaints of Oscar's misconduct; and could he have taken the culprit +in hand at the time, he would probably have handled him rather roughly. +But several days elapsed before he found it convenient to talk with +Oscar about the matter, and by this time his passion had subsided into +anxiety and sorrow. He showed Oscar the letter, in which he, the +eldest son, was severely censured, and his little brother was so highly +commended. With tears in his eyes, he warned him of the dangers before +him, and entreated him to change his course. + +Oscar had never seen his father exhibit so much emotion before. +Usually, on such occasions, he was stern, if not passionate; more ready +to threaten and punish than to appeal to the heart and conscience. +Now, all this was changed, and sorrow seemed to have taken the place of +anger. Oscar was somewhat affected by this unusual manifestation of +parental anxiety. He was pretty well hardened against scoldings and +threatenings, but he did not know how to meet this new form of rebuke. +He tried to conceal his feelings, however, and preserved a sullen +silence throughout the interview. + +This affair made no abiding impression upon Oscar. In a day or two it +was forgotten, and the slight compunctions he felt had entirely +disappeared. But the schoolmaster's complaint was soon followed by +another that was quite as unpleasant. As Mrs. Preston was sitting at +her sewing, one day, the door suddenly opened, and in came Bridget, the +servant girl, with a face as red as rage and a hot fire could make it. + +"I'll be goin' off this night, ma'am--I'll pack me chist, and not stop +here any longer at all," said Bridget, in a tone that betokened her +anger. + +"Going off--what do you mean? You don't say you 're going to leave us +so suddenly, Biddy?" inquired Mrs. Preston, with surprise. + +"Yes, that I be," replied Bridget, very decidedly; "I 'll not be after +staying in the same house with that big, ugly b'y, another day." + +"Who, Oscar? What has he done now?" inquired Mrs. Preston. + +"He's did nothing but bother the life out o' me ivery day since he coom +back, that's jist all he 's did," replied Biddy. "Jist now, ma'am, he +slopped over a hull basin o' dirty whater right on to the clane floor, +and thin laffed at me, and sassed me, and called me, all sorts o' bad +names--the little sass-box! It's not the like o' Bridget Mullikin that +'ll put up with his dirty impidence another day. I 'd like to live +with ye, ma'am, and Mister Pristen, good, nice man that he is but I +can't stop to be trated like a dog by that sassy b'y." + +"I 'll go and see what he has been about," said Mrs. Preston, laying +down her work. + +When they reached the kitchen, Oscar was not to be found. There was +the puddle of dirty water upon the floor, however, and so far Bridget's +story was corroborated. As she proceeded to wipe it up, she continued +to speak in not very complimentary terms of the "ugly b'y," as she +delighted to call Oscar. It was in vain that Mrs. Preston attempted to +soothe her ruffled spirits. She refused to be comforted, and insisted +upon taking her departure from the house that night. + +Oscar did not make his appearance again until late in the afternoon. +When his mother called him to account for his treatment of Bridget, he +denied the greater part of her story. He said that the basin of water +was standing upon the floor, and that he accidentally hit it with his +foot, and upset it. He denied that he called her bad names or was +impudent, but he admitted that he laughed, to see her so angry. He +also complained that she was as "cross as Bedlam" to him, and "jawed" +him whenever he entered the kitchen. + +Mrs. Preston, puzzled by these contradictory stories, brought the two +contending parties face to face, in hope of either eliciting the truth +or effecting a treaty of peace between them. She failed in both +objects, however. Bridget not only adhered to her first statement, but +boldly accused Oscar of sundry other misdeeds that had come up in +recollection since the first outbreak; while Oscar, on the other hand, +stoutly denied most of her charges, and insisted that she was +ill-natured, and irritated him in every possible way. The contest +finally waxed so warm between them that Mrs. Preston was obliged to +interpose, and to withdraw with Oscar. + +Mrs. Preston never ascertained the real facts in the case. Candor +compels me to say that Bridget's complaints were essentially true. +Knowing the poor Irish girl's weak side (her quick temper), Oscar had +for some time taxed his ingenuity to torment her, for the sake of +hearing her "sputter," as he termed it. He was not only impudent, and +applied offensive names to her, but sometimes he purposely put her to +extra labor and trouble by misplacing articles, making dirt about the +house, &c. These things were a sad annoyance to Bridget, and she soon +came to regard Oscar as "the plague of her life," and treated him +accordingly. He did very wrong to annoy her in this way; and she was +foolish to take so much notice of his hectoring. The ill-will thus +established between them grew day by day, until it resulted in the open +rupture just described. But Mrs. Preston did not give full credit to +Bridget's story. She believed the difficulty was owing quite as much +to Biddy's irritable temper and ignorance as to Oscar's impudence, and +consequently the latter escaped with a slight reprimand. She also +prevailed upon Bridget to remain with them the week out, thinking she +would by that time get over her anger. But, to the surprise of all, +when Saturday night came, Bridget took her departure. She had got +another "place," where she would be out of the reach of the provoking +Oscar. + +The week for the annual examination of the public schools soon arrived. +Oscar begged hard, but in vain, for permission to absent himself, on +the eventful day that the grave committee and other distinguished +visitors were to sit in judgment upon the condition of the school to +which he belonged. But though he was present, he did not appear to +much advantage among the "bright particular stars" of the day; and as +one and another of the flower of his class were called out, to receive +the "Franklin medals," his name was not heard, and no silken ribbon, +with silver medal attached, was hung around his neck. + +The same day, in obedience to the orders of his father, but very much +against his own inclination, Oscar applied to the head master for the +certificate required of boys who present themselves for admission to +the High School. The teacher seemed a little puzzled what reply to +make. At length he said: + +"Do you know what kind of a certificate is required?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar, who had read the advertisement in the paper +that morning. + +"The certificate must say that you are a boy of good character, and +that your teacher believes you are qualified for admission to the High +School," continued the master. "Now I want to ask you if you think I +can honestly say that of you?" + +Oscar hung his head in shame, but made no reply. It had turned out +just as he feared it would. + +"It is very hard to refuse such a request," continued the teacher; +"but, really, if I should give you the certificate, I am afraid it +would do you no good, while it might do me some harm, for I don't like +to have my scholars rejected. I cannot honestly say that I think you +are qualified for the High School; and besides your conduct has been +such of late, that I do not see how I could give you a very high +recommendation. I would advise you to give up the idea of applying for +admission. I am very sorry it is so, but that will not help the +matter." + +What could Oscar say to this? He said nothing, but his looks betrayed +the deep mortification he felt, and moved his teacher to pity, while he +denied his request. Nor was this the end of Oscar's troubles. He had +got to face his father, and to confess to him that he was found +unworthy even to be a candidate for the school for which he had so long +been preparing. In doing this, he smoothed over the matter as well as +he could; but at best it was a bitter thing to him, and thus he began +to experience some of the sad but natural effects of his own misconduct. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +NED MIXER. + +The long summer vacation had now commenced. Oscar wished to spend it +at Brookdale, but his parents did not seem much inclined to yield to +his wishes. They had not yet fully determined what to do with him; +whether to send him to a private school, when the vacations were over, +or to put him to work in some shop or store. Meanwhile, Oscar was +idling away his time about the streets, and devoting all his energies +to the pursuit of amusement. His favorite place of resort continued to +be the hotel where Alfred Walton lived. Here he found congenial +spirits in Alfred, and Andy the speller, and the several drivers and +hostlers, with whom he was on intimate terms. Here, too, he often met +with strangers who took his fancy. + +At this time, a boy named Edward Mixer was boarding at the hotel. He +had lately come to Boston from another city, and Oscar and Alfred were +soon captivated by his free and easy manners, and his sociable +qualities. He was between fifteen and sixteen years old, and +represented that he was travelling about, to see the world. He said he +had plenty of money, and should have a great deal more, when he became +of age. He was fashionably dressed, and Oscar and Alfred felt proud of +his acquaintance, and were soon on terms of intimacy with him. + +It was not long before Oscar discovered that Edward was a very bad boy. +His conversation was low and profane, and he seemed to take special +delight in relating sundry "scrapes," in which he himself figured in a +character that was something worse than mischievous, and bordered on +the criminal. He "talked large," too, amazingly large; and Oscar and +Alfred were at length forced to the reluctant conclusion that he was an +unmitigated liar. But these were small faults, in their view. They +considered Ned a capital fellow, and a right down good companion, in +spite of these little drawbacks, and they sought his company as much as +ever. + +Ned spent a good deal of his time around the several railroad depôts. +He seemed to have quite a mania for such places. Oscar and Alfred +often accompanied him to these favorite old haunts of theirs. One +morning, as the three were loitering around a depôt, having nothing in +particular to amuse themselves with, an excursion on foot into a +neighboring town was proposed, and all readily agreed to the +suggestion. They immediately set out, accompanied by Oscar's dog, +Tiger. They walked along the railroad track, and crossed the river by +the railroad bridge, thus saving their tolls, besides many extra steps. +They passed several small sign-boards, on which was painted the +warning, "_No Person allowed to cross this Bridge_;" but this did not +check their progress, and as no one interfered with them, they were +soon safely over the river. They still followed the track for some +distance, until they had reached the open country, and then they turned +off into the green fields. + +There were many fine orchards and gardens on every side, but ripe +fruits and berries were very scarce. Strawberries and cherries had +pretty much disappeared, and it was not yet time for plums, peaches, +and early apples and pears. Ned appeared to regret this very much. + +"Just see there!" he exclaimed, as they approached a large garden, +remote from any house, whose trees were loaded with green fruit. "What +fine picking we should have, if it were only a few weeks later! I mean +to come out here again next month, you see if I don't. We must mark +this place; let me see; there's an old rough board fence--I shall +remember that, I guess. Didn't you ever rob an orchard, Alf? I've +robbed more than you could shake a stick at. I 'm a first-rate hand at +it, I can tell you--never got caught in my life; but I've come pretty +near it, though, a good many times. Hold on--I 'm going to get over +the fence, and see what they 've got. Those plums over there look as +if they were pretty near ripe. Come, Alf and Oscar, won't you get +over?" + +"You two may," said Oscar, "but I 'll stay here with Tiger. He might +bark if we all got over, where he could n't see us." + +Edward and Alfred were soon upon the other side of the fence. While +they were exploring the garden, Oscar's attention was attracted to a +dense thicket, from which two or three birds suddenly flew on his +approach. He thought there might be a nest there, and concluded to see +if he could find it. Carefully brushing aside the leaves and twigs, he +began to hunt for the suspected nest, while Tiger stood looking on. +Absorbed in this occupation, he lost sight of his comrades. + +[Illustration: Hunting for Birds' Nests.] + +After searching for several minutes, Oscar found a small nest, within +his reach, but it was empty. He turned to inform the other boys of his +success, but they were nowhere to be seen. He walked along by the +fence, but could see nothing of them. He was afraid to call to them, +lest the owner of the garden might hear, and take the alarm. He +listened, but could not hear them. He walked along still further, and +kept his eyes wide open, but they were not to be seen. He concluded +they were playing a trick upon him, and had hid themselves. If that +was the game he thought, he would not worry himself about it. He +accordingly turned about, and was going to sit down and wait for them +to make their appearance, when he happened to espy them in a distant +field, running at the top of their speed, with a man in full chase +after them. It was soon evident that the boys were gaining on their +pursuer; but they were approaching a brook, over which there was no +bridge, and the man probably supposed that would bring them to a stand. +It did not, however, for they ran right through the shallow water, +without stopping to think about it. The man did not think it prudent +to follow their example, and he accordingly gave up the chase, and went +back with dry feet. + +After Edward and Alfred had got rid of their pursuer, they began to +look around for Oscar. The latter, putting his fingers into his mouth, +gave a loud and shrill whistle, which they immediately recognized, and +answered in a similar way. Oscar started towards them, and taking a +wide sweep through the fields, they all came out together upon the +highway. They did not think it safe to remain long in the +neighborhood, and so they hurried on towards Boston. It appeared, from +Edward's story, that he and Alfred knocked a few hard peaches from a +tree, while in the garden, but they proved unfit to eat. They also +found some ripe currants, and were leisurely helping themselves, when +they heard somebody ask them what they were about. They turned, and +saw a man approaching; whereupon, without stopping to answer his +question, they leaped over the fence, and took to their heels, the man +following closely upon them. The conclusion of the race Oscar had +witnessed. + +As they were walking home, and talking about various matters, Edward +suddenly gave the conversation a new turn, by inquiring: + +"Boys, do you want to go into a grand speculation with me?" + +"Yes, what is it?" was the response of both the others. + +"We should make something handsome out of it, but we should have to run +some risk," continued Edward. "I've got the scheme all laid out, so +that I know just how to go to work. But it's no use talking about it. +I don't believe either of you have got pluck enough to go into it." + +"I 've got pluck--the real, genuine article; try me, and see if I have +n't," said Alfred. + +"So have I," said Oscar; "I should like to have you show me a boy +that's got more pluck than I have, when I get stirred up." + +"Pooh, you don't know what pluck is, neither of you," replied Edward. +"What would you do if a policeman should nab you?" + +"I should run, just as _you_ did, when the man caught you stealing +fruit," said Oscar, with a laugh. "That's a specimen of _your_ pluck, +aint it?" + +"But what is the speculation you were telling about?" inquired Alfred. + +"I guess I shan't tell you about it now," replied Edward. "I 'm afraid +you would n't keep it to yourselves." + +"Yes we will. _I_ will at any rate," said Alfred. + +"So will I," added Oscar. + +"If I let you into the secret, and you should blab it out, I would n't +mind killing both of you," said Edward, with forced gravity, which he +could not long maintain, it gradually relaxing into a smile. "I mean +what I say," he added, "you needn't laugh at it." + +Both the others renewed their promise to keep the matter a secret; but +Edward, after talking about his scheme a quarter of an hour longer, and +exciting the curiosity of the others to the highest point, finally +informed them that he could not let them into the secret then, but that +he would tell them all about it in a few days, if he was sure that they +would keep it to themselves. + +Oscar saw Edward almost every day, and often inquired about his +speculation, but got no definite answer. He and Alfred both felt very +curious to know what it was; but though expectation was on tiptoe, it +was not gratified. Edward assured them, however, that things were +nearly ready, and that in a few days he would let them into the +mysterious scheme. + +Oscar's uncle, from Brookdale, was now in the city, and was stopping +for a few days at Mr. Preston's. He no sooner arrived, than Oscar +applied to his parents for permission to return with him to Maine; but +they did not give much encouragement to his proposal, although his +uncle said he should like to have him make his family another visit. +Oscar, however, daily renewed his request, for he believed that he +should yet accomplish his object by teasing. + +The day before Oscar's uncle was to return to his home, a gentleman +called into Mr. Preston's store, and told him he wished to see him +alone. Having with drawn to a private room, the stranger introduced +himself as an officer of the police. + +"You have a son fourteen or fifteen years old?" inquired the officer. + +"Yes, I have," replied Mr. Preston. + +"Are you aware that he is getting into bad company?" continued the +officer. + +"No, sir," said Mr. Preston. + +"Well," resumed the other, "I 've called to acquaint you of a few facts +that have come to my knowledge, and you can act in the matter as you +think best. There is a young fellow stopping at the ---- Hotel, who +came to this city a few weeks ago, and who calls himself Edward Mixer. +He is a little larger than your son, and is well dressed, and looks +like a respectable boy; but for a week or two past we have suspected +that he was a rogue. He hangs around the railroad depôts, and as +several persons have had their pockets picked, when getting out of the +cars, since he made his appearance, we began to watch him. We have got +no evidence against him yet; but yesterday I pointed him out to a New +York policeman, who happened to be here, and he says he knows him well. +It seems he is a regular pickpocket by profession, and has served a +term at Blackwell's Island. [1] He was liberated last month, and came +on here to follow the business where he isn't known. But we keep a +sharp eye on him, and as we have noticed that your son is quite +intimate with him, I thought it my duty to inform you of it. I don't +suppose your boy knows the real character of this fellow, or has +anything to do with his roguery; but it isn't safe for him to be in +such company, and I thought you ought to know what is going on." + +Mr. Preston thanked the officer very cordially for the information, and +promised to see that Oscar was immediately put out of the way of danger +from this source. When he went home at noon, he had a long private +interview with his son, and informed him of the disclosures the officer +had made. Oscar was not a little astonished to learn that the genteel +and sociable Ned Mixer, whose company he prized so highly, was a thief +by trade, and was fresh from a prison. He assured his father that he +knew nothing of all this. This was true; but after all Oscar knew too +much of the character of Ned to believe him to be a good boy, or a safe +companion. He had heard him swear and lie. He had also heard him +sneer at virtue, and boast of deeds that no well-ordered conscience +would approve. And yet he courted his company, and considered him a +"capital fellow"! O, foolish boy! + +But Oscar's plea of ignorance did not fully excuse him, even in the eye +of his father, who did not know how little force that plea really had. + +"I don't suppose you knew his character," said Mr. Preston; "but are +there not good boys enough in the neighborhood for you to associate +with--boys that have always lived here and are well known--without your +cultivating the acquaintance of every straggler and vagabond that comes +along? I wish you would not make yourself so intimate with Tom, Dick, +and Harry, before you know anything about them. I 've cautioned you +against this a good many times, and now I hope that you 'll see there +is some cause for it. If this intimacy had gone on a few weeks longer, +it might have ruined you and disgraced your mother and me." + +After consultation with his wife and brother, Mr. Preston concluded to +let Oscar go down to Brookdale; and remain until they could make some +permanent arrangements for him elsewhere. He did not think it safe for +him to remain longer exposed to the temptations of the city. He +charged Oscar not to speak again to Ned, and not to inform any one of +the facts he had learned about him, lest it might thwart the efforts of +the police to detect his rogueries. On second thought, he concluded to +take Oscar to the store with him that afternoon, to prevent the +possibility of an interview between him and Ned. Oscar thus remained +under the eye of his father through the day. In the evening he packed +his valise for the journey, and the next morning he started for +Brookdale with his uncle. + +A day or two after Oscar's departure, Ned was arrested in the act of +picking a lady's pocket at a railroad depôt. Being unable to obtain +bail, he was committed for trial. When his case came up in court, he +was brought in guilty; and it appearing, from the testimony of the +officers, that, though young, he was quite old in crime, he was +sentenced to one year in the House of Correction. + +Oscar never ascertained the nature of Ned's "grand speculation," and +probably it was well for him that he did not. Had he been let into the +secret, and had the scheme been carried into effect at the time it was +first talked of, I might have been obliged to add another and a still +sadder chapter to the history of "THE BOY WHO HAD HIS OWN WAY." + + +[1] The New York Penitentiary. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OSCAR*** + + +******* This file should be named 18153-8.txt or 18153-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/5/18153 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Oscar</p> +<p> The Boy Who Had His Own Way</p> +<p>Author: Walter Aimwell</p> +<p>Release Date: April 11, 2006 [eBook #18153]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OSCAR***</p> +<br><br><center><h3>E-text prepared by Al Haines</h3></center><br><br> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT="Winter Scene on Boston Common." BORDER="2" WIDTH="495" HEIGHT="368"> +<H4> +[Frontispiece: Winter Scene on Boston Common.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-title"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-title.jpg" ALT="Title-Page: Vignette." BORDER="2" WIDTH="377" HEIGHT="584"> +<H4> +[Title-Page: Vignette.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +The Aimwell Stories +</H2> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +OSCAR: +</H1> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +OR THE +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +BOY WHO HAD HIS OWN WAY. +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WALTER AIMWELL, +</H3> + +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AUTHOR OF "CLINTON," "BOY'S OWN GUIDE," ETC. +</H4> + +<BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +With Illustrations. +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +BOSTON: +<BR> +GOULD AND LINCOLN, +<BR> +69 WASHINGTON STREET. +<BR> +NEW YORK: SHELDON AND COMPANY. +<BR> +CINCINNATI: GEO. S. BLANCHARD. +<BR> +1861. +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by +<BR> +GOULD AND LINCOLN, +<BR> +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court, +<BR> +of the District of Massachusetts +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PREFACE. +</H3> + +<P> +In the story of OSCAR is portrayed the career of a bright but somewhat +headstrong boy, who was over-indulged by his parents, and who usually +managed to "have his own way," by hook or by crook. The book is designed +to exhibit some of the bad consequences of acquiring a wayward and +lawless spirit, and of falling into indolent, untruthful, and disobedient +habits. These are its main lessons, intermingled with which are a +variety of others, of scarcely less importance to the young. +</P> + +<P> +<I>Winchester, Mass.</I> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ADVERTISEMENT. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +"PRECEPTS MAY LEAD BUT EXAMPLES DRAW." +</H3> + +<BR> + +<P> +"THE AIMWELL STORIES" are designed to portray some of the leading phases +of juvenile character, and to point out their tendencies to future good +and evil. This they undertake to do by describing the quiet, natural +scenes and incidents of everyday life, in city and country, at home and +abroad, at school and upon the play-ground, rather than by resorting to +romantic adventures and startling effects. While their main object is to +persuade the young to lay well the foundations of their characters, to +win them to the ways of virtue, and to incite them to good deeds and +noble aims, the attempt is also made to mingle amusing, curious, and +useful information with the moral lessons conveyed. It is hoped that the +volumes will thus be made attractive and agreeable, as well as +instructive, to the youthful reader. +</P> + +<P> +Each volume of the "Aimwell Stories" will be complete and independent of +itself, although a connecting thread will run through the whole series. +The order of the volumes, so far as completed, is as follows:— +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> + I. OSCAR; OR, THE BOY WHO HAD HIS OWN WAY.<BR> + II. CLINTON; OR, BOY-LIFE IN THE COUNTRY.<BR> + III. ELLA; OR, TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF.<BR> + IV. WHISTLER; OR, THE MANLY BOY.<BR> + V. MARCUS; OR, THE BOY-TAMER.<BR> + VI. JESSIE; OR, TRYING TO BE SOMEBODY.<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS. +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap01"> +CHAPTER I. +<BR><BR> +A KITCHEN SCENE. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Bridget and her little realm—A troop of rude intruders—An imperious +demand—A flat refusal—Prying investigations—Biddy's displeasure +aroused—Why Oscar could not find the pie—Another squabble, and its +consequences—Studying under difficulties—Shooting peas—Ralph and +George provoked—A piece of Bridget's mind—Mrs. Preston—George's +complaint—Oscar rebuked—A tell-tale—Oscar's brothers and sisters—His +father and mother. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap02"> +CHAPTER II. +<BR><BR> +OSCAR IN SCHOOL. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Oscar's school—The divisions and classes—Lively and pleasant +sights—Playing schoolmaster—Carrying the joke too far to be +agreeable—Oscar's indolence in school—Gazing at the blackboard—A +release from study, and an unexpected privilege—Whiling away an +hour—Doing nothing harder work than studying—A half-learned lesson—A +habit of Oscar's—A ridiculous blunder—Absurd mistakes of the British +government about the great lakes—Oscar less pardonable than +they—Another blunder—Difference between guessing and knowing—Oscar +detained after school—His recitation—Good advice—Remembering the +blackboard—Willie Davenport—A pounding promised. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap03"> +CHAPTER III. +<BR><BR> +PAYING OFF A GRUDGE. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Whistler—Why Ralph liked him—Why Oscar disliked him—A caution—A +sudden attack—An unexpected rescue—The stranger's advice—A brave and +manly answer—Whistler refuses to expose Oscar's name—The boys +separate—George's report of the scene, and Ralph's explanation—Oscar's +return—His sister's rebuke—His mother's +inquiries—Misrepresentations—Willie exonerated—Forgiving enemies—An +unpleasant promise called to mind—Mr. Preston's action in the +matter—Oscar refuses to punish himself—The chamber—A +surprise—Falsehood—Exposure—The account settled—Silence—Late rising +and a cold breakfast—What Mrs. Preston said—Its effect upon +Oscar—Concealed emotion—Mistaken notions of manliness—Good impressions +made—George's narrow escape. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap04"> +CHAPTER IV. +<BR><BR> +THE HOTEL. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Alfred Walton—His home—Hotel acquaintances—Coarse stories and +jokes—Andy—His peculiarities—Tobacco—A spelling lesson—The +disappointment—Anger—Bright and her family—Fun and mischief—The owner +of the pups—A promise—A ride to the depôt—A walk about the +building—Examining wheels—The tracks—An arrival—A swarm of +passengers—Two young travellers taken in tow—Their story—Arrival at +the hotel—A walk—Purchase of deadly weapons—A heavy bill—Gifts to +Alfred and Oscar—A brave speech for a little fellow—Going home. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap05"> +CHAPTER V. +<BR><BR> +THE YOUNG TRAVELLERS +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +The Sabbath—Uneasiness—Monday morning—A pressing invitation to play +truant—Hesitation—The decision—Oscar's misgivings—Manners of the two +travellers—A small theft—Flight—A narrow escape—A costly cake of +sugar—The bridge to Charlestown—The monument—The navy yard—Objects of +interest—Incidents of Joseph's life—A slight test of his +courage—Oscar's plans—Going to dinner—A grand "take in"—Alfred's +disclosures—Real character of the young travellers—Their tough +stories—A mutual difficulty—Confessing what cannot be concealed—Good +advice and mild reproof—The teacher's leniency explained. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap06"> +CHAPTER VI. +<BR><BR> +WORK. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A command—Passing it along—Reluctant obedience—A poor excuse—A bad +habit—Employment for vacation—Oscar's opposition to the plan—Frank the +errand-boy—Thanksgiving week—A busy time—Oscar's experience as +store-boy—Learning to sweep—Doing work well—A tempting invitation—Its +acceptance—A ride—Driving horses—The errand—The return—Oscar at the +store—Sent off "with a flea in his ear"—The matter brought up +again—Oscar's excuse unsatisfactory—Ralph's services +rewarded—Difference between the two boys. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap07"> +CHAPTER VII. +<BR><BR> +THANKSGIVING DAY. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Grandmother's arrival—Surprises—Presents—Oscar at a +shooting-match—Bad company—Cruel sport—Home again—Prevarication—A +remonstrance—Impudence, and a silent rebuke—The dinner—A stormy +afternoon—A disappointment—Evening in the parlor—A call for +stories—How the Indians punished bad boys—What Oscar thought of it—An +Indian story—The hostile party—The alarm—The stratagem—The onset—The +retreat—The victory—Laplot River—Widow Storey's retreat—Misfortunes +of her husband—Her enterprise and industry—Fleeing from the +British—The subterranean abode—Precautions to prevent discovery—Uncle +James—The fellow who was caught in his own trap—Old Zigzag—His +oddities—His tragic end—How the town of Barre, Vt., got its name—A +well-spent evening. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap08"> +CHAPTER VIII. +<BR><BR> +GRANDMOTHER LEE. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +One of her habits—Ella's complaint—Alice's reproof—Ella's rude reply +to her grandmother—A mild rebuke—A sterner reproof—Shame and +repentance—Popping corn—George's selfishness—A fruitless search for +the corn-bag—Bad Temper—An ineffectual reproof—George's obstinacy—How +he became selfish—Difficulty of breaking up a bad habit—What he lost by +his selfishness—Oscar's dog—He is named "Tiger"—His portrait—His +roguishness—Oscar's trick upon his grandmother—Unfortunate +ending—Tiger's destructiveness—A mystery, and its probable +solution—Oscar's falsehood—Tiger's banishment decreed, but not carried +out—Grandmother Lee's remonstrance with Oscar—Bridget's onset—Oscar's +excuse—Moral principle wanting—Mrs. Lee's departure. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap09"> +CHAPTER IX. +<BR><BR> +WINTER SPORTS. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Coasting—Oscar's sled—Borrowing and lending—A merry scene on the +Common—Various sleds and characters—A collision—Damage to Ralph and +the "Clipper"—Not accidental—The guilty parties called to account—No +satisfaction obtained—Ralph's trouble—Oscar's anger—His revenge—A +fight—His termination—Skating—Tiger on the ice—His plunge into an +air-hole—His alarm and escape—Going home—Unfounded fears +awakened—Tiger's shame—A talk about air-holes—What they are for, and +how they are made—Skaters should be cautious—A change in Tiger's +habits—A great snow-storm—Appearance of the streets—Fun for the +boys—A job for Oscar—He is wiser than his father—Nullification of a +command—The command repeated—Icy sidewalks—Laziness and its excuses—A +wise suggestion—Duty neglected—Oscar called to account—His +excuses—Unpleasant consequences of his negligence—The command repeated, +with a "snapper" at the end—The dreaded task completed. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap10"> +CHAPTER X. +<BR><BR> +APPEARANCES. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A compulsory ride—Merited retribution—A sad plight for a proud +boy—Laughter and ridicule—Oscar's neatness and love of dress—The +patched jacket—Oscar's objections to it—Benny Wright, the boy of many +patches—His character—The jacket question peremptorily settled—A +significant shake of the head—A watch wanted—Why boys carry +watches—Punctuality—Oscar's tardiness at school—The real cause of +it—Thinking too much of outside appearances—Character of more +consequence than cloth—An offer—The conditions—A hard question—How to +accomplish an object—Oscar's waywardness—Boarding-school +discipline—The High School—An anticipated novelty. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap11"> +CHAPTER XI. +<BR><BR> +THE MORAL LESSON. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Oscar's shrewdness—His reputation for integrity—A new +want—Perplexity—A chance for speculation—A dishonest device—Its +success—Secrecy—The fraud discovered—Oscar's defence—Restitution +refused—Indignation—The Monday morning lesson in +morals—Dishonesty—Rectifying mistakes—The principle +unfolded—Restoring lost articles—A case for Oscar to decide—His +reluctant decision—Taking advantage of another's ignorance—Duty of +restitution—Other forms of dishonesty—Better to be cheated than to +cheat—Effect of the lesson upon Oscar. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap12"> +CHAPTER XII. +<BR><BR> +SICKNESS. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Wet feet—A command disobeyed—Dabbling in the water—Playing on the +ice—An unexpected adventure—Afloat on an ice-cake—A +consultation—Danger and alarm—Spectators—A call for help—A critical +situation—The rescue—Effects of the adventure—Feverish dreams—Strange +feelings—The doctor's visit—Lung fever—The Latin prescription—Oscar's +removal—He grows worse—Peevishness—Passing the crisis—Improved +behavior—Getting better—General rejoicings—Further improvement—Return +of a bad habit—Fretfulness and impatience—A dispute—First attempt to +sit up—Its failure—First day in an easy chair—The sweets of +convalescence—Danger of a relapse. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap13"> +CHAPTER XIII. +<BR><BR> +GETTING WELL. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Hunger—An evil suggestion—First visit down stairs—Midnight +supper—Weakness and exhaustion—An ill turn—The doctor's visit—The +mystery explained—Contents of a sick boy's stomach—The doctor's abrupt +farewell—His recall—Promise of obedience—Punishment for +imprudence—Directions—Effects of the relapse—Slow recovery—The +menagerie procession—A wet morning—Disobedience—Exposure, and its +consequences—Reading—The borrowed book—The curious letter—Puzzles, +with illustrations—Guessing riddles—Oscar's treatment of Benjamin—His +present feelings towards him—Ella's copy of the letter—Oscar's growing +impatience—An arrival—Uncle John—The loggers—Cousins never seen—A +journey decided upon—Solution of riddles, conundrums, &c. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap14"> +CHAPTER XIV. +<BR><BR> +THE JOURNEY. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Setting out—A long and wearisome ride—Portland—The hotel—Going to +bed—The queer little lamp—Lonesomeness—The evening +prayer—Morning—Breakfast—The railroad depôt—Oscar's partiality for +stage-coaches and good horses—Eighty miles by steam—Dinner—The +stage-coach—An outside seat—The team and the roads—Villages—Mail +bags—Forests and rivers—End of the stage ride—Jerry—An +Introduction—A ride in a wagon—Bashfulness—An invisible village—The +journey's end—Mrs. Preston—More shy cousins—Supper—Evening +employments—Attempting to "scrape acquaintance"—Mary tells Oscar his +name—More questions—The tables turned—Getting acquainted in bed. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap15"> +CHAPTER XV. +<BR><BR> +BROOKDALE. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A dull morning—New acquaintances—Inquiries about Jerry's school-time—A +long vacation—Work—Playmates—Rain—A fine sunrise—The distant pond—A +call to breakfast—Preliminary operations—Jerry's uncombed head—Oscar's +neatness—Jerry sent from the table—Bad manners—Bathing in the pond—An +anticipated pleasure interdicted—The river—A walk—The pond—Map of +Brookdale—Going to ride—The Cross-Roads—Billy's speed discussed—The +variety store—All sorts of things—Oscar's purchase—Returning +home—Short evenings—A nap—A queer dream—Oscar's smartness at +dreaming—Making fun of a country store—Mary's question—Crying +babies—Teasing—Walking backwards—A trip and a fall—A real crying +baby—Mary comforted—Jerry cuffed—Mortification. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap16"> +CHAPTER XVI. +<BR><BR> +IN THE WOODS. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Forgotten medicine and renewed health—An excursion planned—A gun +wanted, but denied—Setting out on a long +tramp—Swamps—Upland—Brooks—How Brookdale got its name—Cutting +canes—Birch and beech—How to crook the handle of a cane—The philosophy +of it explained—The cigars—Fine groves—Stopping to rest—The forest +described—Birds and guns—Other game—Jim Oakley's strange +animal—Moose—The man who met a bear—A race—Mysterious disappearance +of the bear—The probable cause of his visit—The boy who killed two +bears—Oscar's courage—Prospect Rock—A fine view—The rabbit—The +woodchuck's hole—Crossing a swamp—Mosquitoes—The pond—The hermit's +hut—Some account of "Old Staples"—Buried treasures—Making a +fire—Baking potatoes and toasting cheese—Drinking pond +water—Dinner—Hunting for the hermit's money—What they meant to do with +it—A bath proposed—Smoothing over the matter—Going Into water—Drying +their hair—Going home—Lost In the woods—Arrival home—One kind of +punishment for wrong-doing. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap17"> +CHAPTER XVII. +<BR><BR> +CLINTON. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +The missing cap—Splitting wood—Jerry and Emily—A quarrel begun—The +cap found—A drink of buttermilk—Oscar's opinion of it—Jerry's love for +it—Another delay—Feeding the fowls—A mysterious letter—The Shanghae +rooster's complaint—Curiosity excited—The suspected author—Clinton's +education—Keeping dark about the letter—Who Clinton was—Where he +lived—Killing caterpillars—How caterpillars breed—The young +turkeys—The brood of chickens—The hen-coop—Clinton's management of the +poultry—His profits—Success the result of effort, not of luck—The +"rooster's letter" not alluded to—The piggery—The barn—"The horse's +prayer"—A new-comer—Her name—A discovery—Relationship of Clinton to +Whistler—Mrs. Davenport—Oscar conceals his dislike of Whistler—The +shop—Specimens of Clinton's work—Going home. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap18"> +CHAPTER XVIII. +<BR><BR> +THE LETTER. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A forgotten duty called to mind—Letter writing—A mysterious +allusion—The private room—No backing out—Making a beginning—Getting +stuck—Idling away time—Prying into letters—A commotion among the +swallows—Teaching the young ones how to fly—A good lesson lost—Mary +and her book—Her talk about the pictures—A pretty picture—A wasted +hour—Making another attempt—His success—Effects of being in earnest—A +copy of Oscar's letter—Emily's inquisitiveness—A rebuke—The message +she wanted to send—The meadow lot—Mulching for trees—Going to the old +wood lot—Cutting birch twigs-Forgetting to be lazy—The load—A ride to +the Cross-Roads—Mailing the letter—Paying the postage in advance. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap19"> +CHAPTER XIX. +<BR><BR> +THE RECALL. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Hankerings after a gun—A plan—Jim Oakley's gun—A dispute—An open +rupture—The broken gun—Going home mad—A call from Clinton—The +toiler—Summons home—Disappointment—Bad feeling between Oscar and +Jerry—How they slept—Remarks about their appearance at the breakfast +table—Borrowing trouble—Another visit proposed—Jerry's explosion of +anger—His imprudence—Confinement down cellar—An unhappy day—"Making +up" at night—A duty neglected—Inquiries about the gun—Starting for +home—A pleasant drive—The stage-coach—The cars—Luncheon—Half an hour +in Portland—The Boston train—A spark in the eye—Pain and +inflammation—Boston—Ralph's surprise—Welcome home—The eye-stone—The +intruder removed. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap20"> +CHAPTER XX. +<BR><BR> +DOWNWARD PROGRESS. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Oscar's dread of going to school—Unsuccessful pleas—Oscar at +school—His indifference to his studies—A "talent for missing"—A +reproof—Kicking a cap—Whistler's generosity—Benny Wright—Oscar's bad +conduct—Regarded as incorrigible—The tobacco spittle—Oscar's +denial—Betrayed by his breath—A successful search—The teacher's +rebuke—The new copy—Its effect—A note for Oscar's father—What it led +to—Concealment of real feelings—Bridget's complaint—The puddle on the +kitchen floor—Oscar's story—Conflicting reports—A new flare-up—The +truth of the matter—Bridget's departure—Examination day—The +medals—The certificate for the High School—A refusal—Bitter fruits of +misconduct. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<A HREF="#chap21"> +CHAPTER XXI. +<BR><BR> +NED MIXER. +</A> +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Vacation—Associates—Edward Mixer—His character—Loitering around +railroad depôts—An excursion into the country—The railroad +bridge—Fruit—A fine garden—Getting over the fence—Looking for birds' +nests—Disappearance of Edward and Alfred—A chase—Escape of the +boys—Hailing each other—Edward's account of the adventure—A grand +speculation—Pluck—Secrecy—Curiosity not gratified—Arrival of Oscar's +uncle—The officer's interview with Mr. Preston—The real character and +history of Ned—Timely warning—Oscar's astonishment—What he knew +concerning Ned—A hint about forming new acquaintances—Oscar's removal +from city temptations decided on—A caution and +precaution—Departure—Ned's arrest and sentence—The "grand speculation" +never divulged. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Illustrations. +</H2> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-front"> +WINTER SCENE ON BOSTON COMMON . . . . . . FRONTISPIECE +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-title"> +VIGNETTE . . . . . . . . . TITLE-PAGE +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-027"> +PLAYING SCHOOLMASTER. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-039"> +THE ASSAULT. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-056"> +BRIGHT AND HER FAMILY. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-089"> +THANKSGIVING MARKET SCENE. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-114"> +TIGER'S COUNTENANCE. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-141"> +THE OVERTURN. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-168"> +AFLOAT ON THE ICE. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-187a"> +A QUEER NAME. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-187b"> +THE DOUBLE FACE. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-188"> +THE CAT-ERECT. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-211"> +MAP OF BROOKDALE. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-233"> +THE DINNER IN THE WOODS. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-261"> +MARY AND THE PICTURE-BOOK. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-280"> +THE STAGE-COACH. +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-304"> +HUNTING FOR BIRDS' NESTS. +</A> +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +OSCAR. +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A KITCHEN SCENE. +</H3> + +<P> +Bridget, the Irish servant girl, had finished the house-work for the +day, and sat down to do a little mending with her needle. The fire in +the range, which for hours had sent forth such scorching blasts, was +now burning dim; for it was early in October, and the weather was mild +and pleasant. The floor was swept, and the various articles belonging +in the room were arranged in their proper places, for the night. The +mistress of the kitchen,—for Bridget claimed this as her rank, if not +her title,—was humming a queer medley of tunes known only to herself, +as her clumsy fingers were trying to coax the needle to perform some +dextrous feat that it did not seem inclined to do in her hands. What +she was thinking about, is none of our business; but whatever it was, +her revery was suddenly disturbed, and the good nature that beamed from +her face dispelled, by the noisy clattering of more than one pair of +little boots on the stairs. In a moment, the door opened with a jerk +and a push, and in bounded three boys, with as little display of +manners or propriety as so many savages might exhibit. The oldest +directed his steps to the closet, singing, as he peered round among the +eatables: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Eggs, cheese, butter, bread,--<BR> +Stick, stock, stone-dead."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Biddy," he continued, "I 'm hungry—give me something to eat, quick." +</P> + +<P> +Bridget paid no attention to this demand, but only twitched her needle +with a little more energy. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Biddy," continued the boy, "what did you have for supper? +Come, give me some, I 'm half starved." +</P> + +<P> +"And why did n't ye come when the supper was ready, if ye wanted any?" +said Bridget. "If ye won't ate with the rest, it's not me that will +wait upon ye, Master Oscar." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," continued Oscar, "if you won't help me, I guess I can help +myself. Ralph, what did you have for supper?" +</P> + +<P> +The boy addressed named over several articles, among which were cake +and mince-pie, neither of which could Oscar find in the closet. +</P> + +<P> +"Where did you put the pie, Biddy?" he inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"It 's where ye won't find it," replied Bridget, "that's jist where it +is." +</P> + +<P> +"I bet I <I>will</I> find it, come now," said Oscar, with a determined air; +and he commenced the search in earnest, prying into every covered dish, +opening every drawer and bucket, and overhauling and disarranging every +part of the closet. Bridget was just then in too irritable a mood to +bear this provoking invasion of her realm with patience. In an angry +tone, she ordered the intruder to leave the closet, but he took no +notice of the command. She repeated the order, making it more emphatic +by calling him a "plague" and a "torment," but he did not heed it. +Then she threatened to tell his parents of his misconduct, but this had +no effect. Oscar continued his search for some minutes, but without +success; and he finally concluded to make his supper of bread and +butter, since he could find nothing more tempting to his appetite. +</P> + +<P> +The fact was, Oscar was getting in the habit of being absent from his +meals, and calling for food at unseasonable hours, much to the +annoyance of Bridget. She had complained of this to his mother several +times, without effect; and now she thought she would try a little +expedient of her own. So, when she cleared away the supper-table that +evening, before Oscar came home, she hid away the cake and pies with +which the others had been served, and left only bread and butter in the +closet. She gained her end, but the boy, in rummaging for the hidden +articles, had made her half an hour's extra work, in putting things to +rights again. +</P> + +<P> +As Oscar stepped out of the closet, after his solitary supper, he moved +towards the youngest of the other boys, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"Here, George, open your mouth and shut your eyes, and I 'll give you +something to make you wise." +</P> + +<P> +George declined the gift, but Oscar insisted, and tried to force it +upon him. A struggle ensued, and both rolled upon the floor, the one +crying and screaming with anger, and the other laughing as though he +considered it good fun. George shut his teeth firmly together, but +Oscar succeeded in rubbing enough of the mysterious article upon his +lips to enable him to tell what it was. It proved to be a piece of +pepper, a plate of which Oscar had found in the closet. +</P> + +<P> +This little experiment, however, did not leave George in a very +pleasant frame of mind. It was some time before he got over his +blubbering and pouting. Oscar called him a "cry-baby," for making such +a fuss about a little bit of pepper, which epithet did not aid him much +in forgetting the injury he had received. +</P> + +<P> +After awhile, quiet and harmony were in a measure restored. Ralph and +George got their school-books, and began to look over the lessons they +were to recite in the morning; but Oscar not only remained idle, +himself, but seemed to try to interrupt them as much as possible, by +his remarks. By-and-bye, finding they did not take much notice of his +observations, he took from his jacket pocket a small tin tube, and +commenced blowing peas through it, aiming them at his brothers, at +Bridget, and at the lamp. Ralph, after two or three had taken effect +on his face, got up in a pet, and took his book up stairs to the +sitting-room. George scowled and scolded, as the annoying pellets flew +around his head, but he did not mean to be driven away by such small +shot. Bridget, too, soon lost her patience, as the peas rattled upon +the newly-swept floor. +</P> + +<P> +"Git away with yer pays, Oscar," said she; "don't ye be clutterin' up +the clane floor with 'em, that's a good b'y." +</P> + +<P> +"They aint 'pays,' they are <I>peas</I>," replied Oscar; "can't you say +peas, Biddy?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care what ye call 'em," said Bridget; "only kape the things in +yer pocket, and don't bother me with 'em." +</P> + +<P> +"Who 's bothering you?" said Oscar; "me 'pays' don't make any +dirt—they 're just as clean as your floor." +</P> + +<P> +"Ye 're a sassy b'y, that's jist what ye are." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what are you going to do about it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Faith, if it was me that had the doin' of it, I bet I 'd larn ye +better manners, ye great, impudent good-for-nothin', if I had to bate +yer tin times a day." +</P> + +<P> +"You would n't, though, would you?" said Oscar; and he continued the +shower of peas until he had exhausted his stock, and then picked most +of them up again, to serve for some future occasion. He had hardly +finished this last operation, when his mother, who had been out, +returned home. As soon as she entered the kitchen, George began to +pour out his complaints to her. +</P> + +<P> +"Mother," he said, "Oscar 's been plaguing us like everything, all the +evening. He got me down on the floor, and rubbed a hot pepper on my +mouth, and tried to make me eat it. And he's been rummaging all round +the kitchen, trying to find some pie. And then he went to shooting +peas at us, and he got Bridget real mad, and Ralph had to clear out, to +study his lesson. I told him—" +</P> + +<P> +"There, there, George, that will do," replied his mother; "I am sick of +hearing these complaints. Oscar, why is it that I can't stir out of +the house, when you are at home, without your making trouble with +Bridget or the children? I do wish you would try to behave yourself +properly. You are getting the ill-will of everybody in the house, by +your bad conduct. I really believe your brothers and sisters will +begin to hate you, before long, if you keep on in this way. For your +own sake, if for nothing more, I should think you would try to do +better. If I were in your place, I would try to keep on good terms +with my brothers and sisters, if I quarrelled with everybody else." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar made no reply to this, and the subject was soon dropped. His +mother was too much accustomed to such complaints of his misconduct, to +think very seriously of them; and he was himself so used to such mild +rebukes as the foregoing, that they made little impression upon his +mind. The boys, who all slept in one chamber, soon retired for the +night; but Oscar took no further notice of the occurrences of the +evening, except to apply the nickname of "mammy's little tell-tale" to +George—a title of contempt by which he often addressed his little +brother. +</P> + +<P> +I am afraid that the title of "tell-tale" was not wholly undeserved by +George. True, he often had just cause of complaint; but he was too +ready to bring whining accusations against his brothers and sisters, +for every trifling thing. He complained so much that his mother could +not always tell when censure was deserved. It had become a habit with +him, and a dozen times a day he would go to her, with the complaint +that Oscar had been plaguing him, or Ella had got something that +belonged to him, or Ralph would not do this or that. +</P> + +<P> +George, who was the youngest of the children, was at this time seven +years old; Ralph was two years and half older, and Oscar, who was the +oldest son, was about half way between thirteen and fourteen. They had +two sisters. Alice, the oldest, was fifteen years of age, and Eleanor, +or Ella, as she was commonly called, was about eleven. +</P> + +<P> +The father of these boys and girls was a shop-keeper in Boston. His +business required so much of his attention, that he was seldom with his +family, except at meal-times and nights. Even in the evening he was +usually at the shop; but when it so happened that he could remain at +home after tea, it was his delight to settle himself comfortably down +in the big rocking chair, in the well-lighted sitting-room, and to muse +and doze, while Alice sang, and played upon the piano-forte. He had so +many other cares, that he did not like to be troubled with bad reports +of his children's conduct, This was so well understood by all the +family, that even George seldom ventured to go to him with a complaint. +The management of domestic affairs was thus left almost entirely with +Mrs. Preston, and she consulted her husband in regard to these matters +only when grave troubles arose. +</P> + +<P> +I have thus briefly introduced to my readers the family, one of whose +members is to form the principal subject of the following pages. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +OSCAR IN SCHOOL. +</H3> + + +<P> +The school which Oscar attended was held in a large and lofty brick +building, a short distance from the street on which he lived. His +brothers attended the same school, but his sisters did not, it being +only for boys. The pupils numbered four or five hundred—a good many +boys to be together in one building. But though belonging to one +school, and under the control of one head master, they did not often +meet together in one assembly. They were divided into eight or ten +branches, of about fifty scholars each, and each branch had its own +separate room and teacher. There were however, only four classes in +the whole school; and a this time Oscar was a member of the first, or +highest class. There was a large hall in the upper story of the +building, in which the entire school assembled on exhibition days, and +when they met for the practice of singing or declamation. +</P> + +<P> +There were lively and merry times in the vicinity of the school-house, +I can assure you, for half an hour before the opening of school, and +for about the same length of time after the exercises closed. Four +hundred boys cannot well be brought together, without making some stir. +Every morning and afternoon, as the pupils went to and from school, the +streets in the neighborhood would for a few minutes seem to swarm with +boys, of every imaginable size, shape, manners, dress, and appearance. +Usually, they went back and forth in little knots; and with their books +and slates under their arms, their bright, happy faces, their joyous +laugh, and their animated movements, they presented a most pleasing +sight,—"a sight for sore eyes," as a Scotchman might say. If anybody +disputes this, he must be a sour and crabbed fellow. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar, although not the most prompt and punctual of scholars, used +occasionally to go to school in season to have a little fun with his +mates, before the exercises commenced. One day, entering the +school-room a little before the time, he put on an old coat which his +teacher wore in-doors, stuck a quill behind his ear, and made a pair of +spectacles from some pasteboard, which he perched upon his nose. +Arranged, in this fantastical manner, he seated himself with great +dignity in the teacher's chair, and began to "play school-master," to +the amusement of several other boys. It so happened that the teacher +arrived earlier than usual that day, and he was not a little amused, as +he suddenly entered the room, and witnessed the farce that was going +on. Oscar jumped from his seat, but the master made him take it again, +and remain in it just as he caught him, with his great-coat, pasteboard +spectacles and quill, until all the scholars had assembled, and it was +time to commence the studies of the day. This afforded fine sport to +the other boys, but Oscar did not much relish the fun, and he never +attempted to amuse himself in that way again. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-027"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-027.jpg" ALT="Playing Schoolmaster" BORDER="2" WIDTH="282" HEIGHT="280"> +<H4> +[Illustration: Playing Schoolmaster] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +I am sorry that this harmless piece of roguery is not the most serious +charge that candor obliges me to bring against Oscar. But to tell the +truth, he was not noted either for his studious habits or his correct +deportment; and there was very little prospect that he would be +considered a candidate for the "Franklin medals," which were to be +distributed to the most deserving members of his class, when they +graduated, the ensuing July. And yet Oscar was naturally a bright and +intelligent boy. He was quick to learn, when he applied himself; but +he was indolent, and did not like to take the trouble of studying his +lessons. Whenever he could be made to take hold of a lesson in +earnest, he soon mastered it; but the consciousness of this power often +led him to put off his lessons to the last minute, and then perhaps +something would happen to prevent his preparing himself at all. +</P> + +<P> +A day or two after the "kitchen scene" described in the preceding +chapter, Oscar was sitting at his desk in the school-room, with an open +book before him, but with his eyes idly staring at a blackboard affixed +to one of the walls. The teacher watched him a moment, and then spoke +to him. +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar," he said, "what do you find so very fascinating about that +blackboard? You have been looking at it very intently for several +minutes—what do you see that interests you so!" +</P> + +<P> +Oscar hung his head, but made no reply. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you ready to recite your geography lesson?" continued the master. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you not study it, then'" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't feel like studying," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," said the teacher, quite pleasantly; "if you don't feel +like it, you need n't study. You may come here." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar stepped out to the platform on which the teacher's desk was +placed. +</P> + +<P> +"There," continued the master, pointing to a blackboard facing the +school, "you may stand there and look at that board just as long as you +please. But you must not look at anything else, and I would advise you +not to let me catch your eyes turning either to the right or the left. +Now mind and keep your eyes on the board, and when you feel like +studying let me know." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar took the position pointed out to him, with his back towards the +boys, and with his face so near the blackboard, that he could see +nothing else without turning his head—an operation that would be sure +to attract the attention of the master. At first he thought it would +be good fun to stand there, and for awhile the novelty of the thing did +amuse him a little. When he began to grow weary, he contrived to +interest himself by tracing out the faint chalk-marks of long-forgotten +problems, that had not been entirely obliterated from the blackboard. +This afforded employment for his mind for a time; but by-and-bye he +began to grow tired and uneasy. His eyes longed to see something else, +and his legs were weary of standing so long in one position. He +wondered, too, whether the boys were looking at him, and whether they +smiled at his strange employment. At last, after doing penance about +an hour, his exhaustion got the better of his stubbornness, and on +informing the master that he thought ho could study now, he was +permitted to take his seat. +</P> + +<P> +After returning to his desk, Oscar had but little time to finish +learning his geography lesson, before the class was called out to +recite. As was too often the case, he was but half prepared. The +subject of the lesson was New York State. Several of the questions put +to Oscar were answered wrong, either wholly or in part. When asked +what great lakes bordered on New York, he replied: +</P> + +<P> +"Lake Erie and Lake Superior." +</P> + +<P> +When the question was given to another, and correctly answered, Oscar +exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I meant—Erie and Ontario; but I was n't thinking what I +said." +</P> + +<P> +This was somewhat of a habit with Oscar. When he "missed" a question, +he was very apt to say, after the next boy had answered it, "I knew, +only I could n't think," or, "I was just going to say so." +</P> + +<P> +Another question put to him was, whether the water of the great New +York lakes was fresh or salt. Oscar replied that it was salt. It is +but justice to add, how ever, that nothing was said in the lesson of +the day, on this point, although the question had occurred in a +previous lesson. Noticing that several of the boys laughed at Oscar's +blunder, the teacher remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"That was a very foolish answer, Oscar, but you are not the first nor +the wisest person that has made the same mistake. When the British +went to war with us, in 1812, it is said that all their war vessels +intended to navigate the lakes, were furnished with tanks and casks for +carrying a full supply of freshwater; and I have been told that an +apparatus is still in existence in one of the Canadian navy yards, +which the English government sent over, some years ago, for distilling +fresh water from Lake Erie. But an American school-boy of your age +ought to know better than this, if an English lord of the admiralty +does not. These great lakes are among the remarkable features of our +own country, and every American child should know something about them. +I should suppose," continued the teacher, "that a boy who could afford +to look steadily at nothing for an hour, might take a little pains to +inform himself about so common a matter as this, so as not to appear so +ridiculous, when a simple question is asked him." +</P> + +<P> +Before the lesson was concluded, Oscar made still another mistake. +There was an allusion in the lesson to the great fire of 1885, by which +an immense amount of property in New York city was destroyed. When the +teacher asked him how many buildings were said to have been consumed, +he replied: +</P> + +<P> +"Three hundred and fifty—five hundred and thirty—no, three hundred +and fifty." +</P> + +<P> +"Which number do you mean?" inquired the master. +</P> + +<P> +"I aint sure which it is," replied Oscar, after a moment's hesitation; +"it's one or the other, I don't know which." +</P> + +<P> +"You are about as definite," said the teacher, "as the Irish recruit, +who said his height was five feet ten or ten feet five, he was n't +certain which. But are you <I>sure</I> that the number of buildings burnt +was either three hundred and fifty, or five hundred and thirty?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why—yes—I—believe—it was one or the other," replied Oscar, +hesitatingly. +</P> + +<P> +"You <I>believe</I> it was, do you? Well, I believe you know just nothing +about the lesson. You may go to your seat, and study it until you can +answer every question; and after school I will hear you recite it, and +remember, you will not go home until you <I>can</I> recite it." +</P> + +<P> +The class continued their recitation, and Oscar returned to his seat, +and commenced studying the lesson anew. It was already late in the +afternoon, and as he did not like the idea of stopping after school, he +gave pretty close attention to his book during the rest of the session. +About fifteen minutes after the school was dismissed, he told the +teacher he was prepared to recite, and he succeeded in getting through +the lesson with tolerable accuracy. When he had finished, the teacher +talked with him very plainly about his indolent habits in school, and +the consequences that would hereafter result from them. +</P> + +<P> +"I would advise you," he said, "to do one of two things,—either commit +your lessons perfectly, hereafter, or else give up study entirely, and +ask your father to take you from school and put you to some business. +You can learn as fast as any boy in school, if you will only give your +attention to it; but I despise this half-way system that you have +fallen into. It is only wasting time to half learn a thing, as you did +your geography lesson this afternoon. You studied it just enough to +get a few indistinct impressions, and what little you did learn you +were not sure of. It would be better for you to master but one single +question a day, and then <I>know</I> that you know it, than to fill your +head with a thousand half-learned, indefinite, and uncertain ideas. I +have told you all this before, but you do not seem to pay any attention +to it. I am sorry that it is so, for you might easily stand at the +head of the school, if you would try." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar <I>had</I> received such advice before, but, as his teacher intimated, +he had not profited much by it. If anything, he had grown more +indolent and negligent, within a few months. On going home that night, +Ralph accosted him with the inquiry: +</P> + +<P> +"What did you think of the blackboard, Oscar? Do you suppose you +should know it again, if you should happen to see it?" +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" he inquired, feigning ignorance. +</P> + +<P> +"O, you 've forgotten it a'ready, have you?" continued Ralph. "You +don't remember seeing anything of a blackboard this afternoon, do you?" +</P> + +<P> +"But who told you about it?" inquired Oscar; for though both attended +the same school, their places were in different rooms. +</P> + +<P> +"O, I know what's going on," said Ralph; "you need n't try to be so +secret about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I know who told you about it—'t was Bill Davenport, was n't +it?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +Willie and Ralph were such great cronies, that Oscar's supposition was +a very natural one. Indeed, Ralph could not deny it without telling a +falsehood, and so he made no reply. Oscar, perceiving he had guessed +right, added, in a contemptuous tone: +</P> + +<P> +"The little, sneaking tell-tale—I 'll give him a good pounding for +that, the first time I catch him." +</P> + +<P> +"You 're too bad, Oscar," interposed his brother; "Willie did n't +suppose you cared anything about standing before the blackboard—he +only spoke of it because he thought it was something queer." +</P> + +<P> +Seeing Oscar was in so unamiable a mood, Ralph said nothing more about +the subject, at that time. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PAYING OFF A GRUDGE. +</H3> + + +<P> +The morning after the events just related, as Ralph was on his way to +school, he fell in with Willie Davenport, or "Whistler," as he was +often sportively called, by his playmates, in allusion to his fondness +for a species of music to which most boys are more or less addicted. +And I may as well say here, that he was a very good whistler, and came +honestly by the title by which he was distinguished among his fellows. +His quick ear caught all the new and popular melodies of the day, +before they became threadbare, which gave his whistling an air of +freshness and novelty that few could rival. It was to this +circumstance—the quality of his whistling, rather than the +quantity—that he was chiefly indebted for the name of Whistler. Nor +was he ashamed of his nickname, as he certainly had no need to be; for +it was not applied to him in derision, but playfully and good-naturedly. +</P> + +<P> +Whistler and Ralph were good friends. There was a difference of +between two and three years in their ages, Whistler being about twelve +years old; but their dispositions harmonized together well, and quite a +strong friendship had grown up between them. A very different feeling, +however, had for some time existed between Oscar and Whistler. They +were in the same class at school; but Whistler studied hard, and thus, +though much younger than Oscar, he stood far before him as a scholar. +This awakened some feeling of resentment in Oscar, and he never let +slip any opportunity for annoying or mortifying his more industrious +and successful class-mate. +</P> + +<P> +On their way to school, on the morning in question, Ralph told Whistler +of Oscar's threat, and advised him to avoid his brother as much as +possible, for a day or two, until the affair of the blackboard should +pass from his mind. Whistler heeded this caution, and was careful not +to put himself in the way of his enemy. He succeeded in eluding him +through the day, and was on his way home from school in the afternoon, +when Oscar, who he thought had gone off in another direction, suddenly +appeared at his side. +</P> + +<P> +"You little tell-tale, you," cried Oscar, "what did you tell Ralph +about the blackboard for! I 'll learn you to mind your own business, +next time, you mean, sneaking meddler. Take that—and that," he +continued, giving Whistler several hard blows with his fist. The +latter attempted to dodge the blows, but did not return them, for this +he knew would only increase the anger of Oscar, who was so much his +superior in size and strength, as well as in the art of fisticuffs, +that he could do just about as he pleased with him. The affray, +however, was soon brought to an unexpected end, by a gentleman who +happened to witness it. Seizing Oscar by the collar of his jacket, he +exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Here, here, sir! what are you doing to that little fellow? Don't you +know enough, you great lubber, to take a boy of your own size, if you +want to fight? Now run, my little man, and get out of his way," +continued the stranger, turning to Whistler, and still holding Oscar by +the collar. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-039"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-039.jpg" ALT="The Assault." BORDER="2" WIDTH="207" HEIGHT="280"> +<H4> +[Illustration: The Assault.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Whistler hesitated for a moment between the contending impulses of +obedience and manliness; and then, drawing himself up to his full +stature, he said, with a respectful but decided air: +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir, I have n't injured him, and I won't run away from him." +</P> + +<P> +"Well said, well said—you are a brave little fellow," continued the +gentleman, somewhat surprised at the turn the affair was taking. "What +is your name, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"William Davenport." +</P> + +<P> +"And what is this boy's name?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar," replied Willie, and there he stopped, as if unwilling to +expose further the name of his abuser. +</P> + +<P> +"Well you may go now, Oscar," said the gentleman, relinquishing his +hold; "but if you lay your hands on William again, I shall complain of +you." +</P> + +<P> +The two boys walked off in opposite directions, the gentleman keeping +an eye upon Oscar until Whistler was out of his reach. +</P> + +<P> +A little knot of boys was drawn together by the circumstance just +related, among whom was George, Oscar's youngest brother. He witnessed +the attack, but knew nothing of its cause. As he went directly home, +while Oscar did not, he had an opportunity to report to his mother and +Ralph the scene he had just beheld. Ralph now related to his mother +the incident of the preceding day, which led to the assault; for, +seeing Oscar's unwillingness to have anything said about it, he had not +mentioned the matter to any one at home. Ralph was a generous-hearted +boy, and in this case was actuated by a regard for Oscar's feelings, +rather than by fear. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar did not come home that night until after dark. As he entered the +sitting-room, Alice, who was seated at the piano-forte, broke short off +the piece she was playing, and said, looking at him as sternly as she +could, +</P> + +<P> +"You great ugly boy!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what's the matter now?" inquired Oscar, who hardly knew whether +this rough salutation was designed to be in fun or in earnest; "don't I +look as well as usual?" +</P> + +<P> +"You looked well beating little Willie Davenport, don't you think you +did?" continued his sister, with the same stern look. "I 'm perfectly +ashamed of you—I declare, I did n't know you could do such a mean +thing as that." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care," replied Oscar, "I 'll lick him again, if he does n't +mind his own business." +</P> + +<P> +As Oscar did not know that George witnessed the assault, he was at a +loss to know how Alice heard of it. She refused to tell him, and he +finally concluded that Whistler or his mother must have called there, +to enter a complaint against him. Pretty soon Mrs. Preston entered the +room, and sat down, to await the arrival of Oscar's father to tea. She +at once introduced the topic which was uppermost in her mind, by the +inquiry: +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar, what is the trouble between you and Willie Davenport?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why," replied Oscar, "he 's been telling stories about me." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean false stories?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes—no—not exactly false, but it was n't true, neither." +</P> + +<P> +"It must have been a singular story, to have been either false nor +true. And as it appears there was but one story, I should like to know +what it was." +</P> + +<P> +"He told Ralph I had to stand up and look at a blackboard an hour." +</P> + +<P> +"Was that false?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Oscar, for in replying to his mother, of late, he had +usually omitted the "ma'am" (madam) which no well-bred boy will fail to +place after the yes or no addressed to a mother; "yes, it was a lie, +for I need n't have stood there five minutes, if I had n't wanted to." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you stand before the blackboard because you wanted to, or was it +intended as a punishment for not attending to your lesson!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I suppose it was meant for a punishment, but the master told me I +might go to my seat, whenever I wanted to study." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," said Mrs. Preston, "after all your quibbling, I don't see that +Willie told any falsehood. And, in fact, I don't believe he had any +idea of injuring you, when he told Ralph of the affair. He only spoke +of it as a little matter of news. But even if he had told a lie about +you, or had related the occurrence out of ill-will towards you, would +that be any excuse for your conduct, in beating him as you did this +afternoon! Do you remember the subject of your last Sabbath-school +lesson?" +</P> + +<P> +Oscar could not recall it, and shook his head in the negative. +</P> + +<P> +"I have not forgotten it," continued his mother; "it was on forgiving +our enemies, and it is a lesson that you very much need to learn. 'If +ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive +your trespasses,'—that was one of the verses of the lesson. It is +noble to forgive, but it is mean to retaliate. You must learn to +conquer your resentful spirit, or you will be in trouble all the time. +I shall report this matter to your father when he comes. I suppose you +remember what he promised you, when you had your fight with Sam Oliver?" +</P> + +<P> +Oscar remembered it very distinctly. On that occasion, his father +reprimanded him with much severity, and assured him that any repetition +of the fault would not go unpunished. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Preston soon came in, and as the family sat at the tea-table, he +was informed of Oscar's misconduct. After scolding the culprit with +much sharpness, for his attack upon Willie, he concluded by ordering +him immediately to bed. Although it yet lacked two hours of his usual +bed-time, Oscar did not consider his punishment very severe, but +retired to his chamber, feeling delighted that he had got off so much +easier than he anticipated. Indeed, so little did he think of his +father's command, that he felt in no hurry to obey it. Instead of +going to bed, he sat awhile at the window, listening to the music of a +flute which some one in the neighborhood was playing upon. Presently +Ralph and George, who slept in the same chamber with him, came up to +keep him company. They amused themselves together for some time, and +Oscar quite forgot that he had been sent to bed, until the door +suddenly opened, and his father, whose attention had been attracted by +the noise, stood before him. +</P> + +<P> +"Did n't I tell you to go to bed an hour ago, Oscar?" he inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Why have n't you obeyed me, then?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because," said Oscar, "I 've got a lesson to get to-night, and I have +n't studied it yet." +</P> + +<P> +"If you 've got a lesson to learn, where is your book?" inquired his +father. +</P> + +<P> +"It 's down stairs; I was afraid to go after it, and so I was trying to +coax Ralph to get it for me." +</P> + +<P> +"O, what a story!" cried George; "why, father, he has n't said one word +about his book." +</P> + +<P> +This was true. Oscar, in his extremity, had hastily framed a +falsehood, trusting that his assurance would enable him to carry it +through. And he would probably have succeeded but for George; as +Ralph, in his well-meant but very mistaken kindness for Oscar, would +not have been very likely to expose him. But the lie was nailed, and +Oscar's bold and wicked push had only placed him in a far worse +position than he occupied before. His father, for a moment, could +scarcely believe his ears; but this feeling of astonishment soon gave +way to a frown, before which Oscar cowered like a sheep before a lion. +Mr. Preston was a man of strong passions, but of few words. Having set +forth briefly but in vivid colors the aggravated nature of Oscar's +three-fold offence,—his attack upon Willie, his disobedience when +ordered to bed, and the falsehood with which he attempted to cover up +his disobedience,—he proceeded to inflict summary and severe +chastisement upon the offender. It was very rarely that he resorted to +this means of discipline, but this he deemed a case where it was +imperatively demanded. +</P> + +<P> +Silence reigned in the boys' chamber the rest of the night. Oscar was +too sullen to speak; Ralph silently pitied his brother, not less for +the sins into which he had fallen than for the pain he had suffered; +and George was too much taken up with thinking about the probable +after-clap of this storm, to notice anything else. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar was fond of his bed, and was usually the last one of the family +to rise, especially in cool weather. On the morning after the +occurrences above related, he laid abed later than usual even with him. +His father had gone to the store, and the children were out-doors at +play, before he made his appearance at the breakfast-table. He sat +down to the deserted table, and was helping himself to the cold +remnants of the meal, when his mother entered the room. Oscar noticed +that she looked unusually sad and dejected. After sitting in silence a +few moments, she remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"You see how I look, this morning, Oscar. I did not sleep half an hour +last night, and now I am not fit to be up from my bed—and all on your +account. I am afraid your misconduct will be the death of me, yet. I +used to love to think how much comfort I should take in you, when you +should grow up into a tall, manly youth; but I have been sadly +disappointed, so far. The older you grow, the worse you behave, and +the more trouble you make me. Do you intend always to go on in this +way?" +</P> + +<P> +Oscar nervously spread the slice of bread before him, but made no +reply. His mother continued her reproofs, in the same sad but +affectionate tone. She appealed to his sense of right, to his +gratitude, and to his hopes of future success and respectability in +life. She described the sad end to which these beginnings of +wrong-doing would inevitably lead him, and earnestly besought him to +try to do better, before his bad habits should become confirmed. Her +earnest manner, and her pale, haggard cheeks, down which tears were +slowly stealing, touched the feelings of Oscar. Moisture began to +gather in his eyes, in spite of himself. He tried to appear very much +interested in the food he was eating, and to look as though he was +indifferent to what his mother was saying. And, in a measure, he did +succeed in choking down those good feelings which were beginning to +stir in his heart, and which, mistaken boy! he thought it would be +unmanly to betray. +</P> + +<P> +Yes, he was mistaken—sadly mistaken. Unmanly to be touched by a +mother's grief, and to be moved by a mother's tender entreaties! +Unmanly to acknowledge that we have done wrong, or to express sorrow +for the wrong act! Unmanly to resolve to resist temptation in the +future! Where is this monstrous law of manliness to be found? If +anywhere, it must be only in the code of pirates and desperadoes, who +have renounced all human laws and ties. +</P> + +<P> +The school hour was at hand, and Oscar was obliged to start as soon as +he had finished his breakfast. Had he not stifled the better +promptings of his heart, and thus done violence to his nature, he would +not have left his mother without assuring her that he felt sorry for +his misconduct; for he <I>did</I> feel some degree of regret, although he +was too proud to acknowledge it. His mother, however, saw some tokens +of feeling which he could not wholly conceal, and she left him with a +sad heart, but with the hope that at least some faint impression had +been made upon him. +</P> + +<P> +And, indeed, some impression was made upon Oscar's heart. The feeling +of sullenness with which he awoke, had subsided into something +resembling "low spirits." Nor was this all the effect his mother's +conversation had upon him. As he lay awake in the morning, he had +planned the secret destruction of a beautiful sled which had been given +to George, the winter previous, and which was very precious in the eyes +of the owner; but now he relinquished this mean and revengeful design. +Little George thus escaped the dreaded "after-clap," but he never knew +what a blow it would have been, nor how near he came to feeling its +full force. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE HOTEL. +</H3> + + +<P> +One of Oscar's most intimate companions was a boy of about his own age, +named Alfred Walton, who attended the same school with him. Alfred's +father was dead; but he had a step-father, whom he called father, and +with whom he lived. His home was to Oscar a very attractive one; for +it was a public house, and had large stables and a stage-office +attached, and was usually full of company. Alfred's step-father was +the landlord of the hotel, and of course he and his young friends were +privileged characters about the premises. Oscar and Alfred were +together a great deal of the time, when out of school, and quite a warm +friendship existed between them. On Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, +and during the other play hours of the week, Oscar might generally be +found about the hotel premises, or riding on the coaches with Alfred. +He only regretted that he could not stay there altogether; for he +thought it must be a fine thing to live in such a place, where he could +do pretty much as he pleased, without anybody's interference. Such, at +least, seemed to be the privilege of Alfred; for everybody, from his +step-father down to the humblest servants, appeared to have too much +other business on their hands to give much attention to his boyish +movements. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar made many acquaintances at the hotel, not a few of which were +anything but desirable for a boy of his age and character. He was on +chatty terms with all the stage-drivers, hostlers, and servants about +the premises, and also got acquainted with many strangers who stopped +there for a season. He was very fond of listening to the stories of +the drivers and other frequenters of the stage-office, and he would sit +by the hour, inhaling the smoke of their cigars, admiring their long +yarns, and laughing at the jokes they cracked. Much of this +conversation was coarse and even vulgar, such as a pure mind could not +listen to without suffering contamination, or at least a blunting of +its delicate sensibilities. It is a serious misfortune for a youth to +be exposed to such influences, but Oscar did not know it, or did not +believe it. +</P> + +<P> +Among the hangers about the stable, was a queer fellow who went by the +name of Andy. His real name was Anderson. He was weak-minded and +childish, his lack of intellect taking the form of silliness rather +than of stupidity. Indeed, he was bright and quick in his way, but it +was a very foolish and nonsensical way. He was famous among all the +boys of the neighborhood, for using strange and amusing words, and +especially for a system of spelling on which he prided himself, and +which is not laid down in any of the dictionaries. He afforded much +sport to the boys, who would gather around him, and give him words by +the dozen to spell. The readiness and ingenuity with which he would +mis-spell the most simple words, was quite amusing to them. He never +hesitated, nor stopped to think, but always spelt the given word in his +peculiar way, just as promptly as though he did it according to a rule +which he perfectly understood. +</P> + +<P> +One Saturday afternoon, as Oscar and Alfred were looking about the +stable, Andy suddenly made his appearance, and asked them for a bit of +tobacco. Both of the boys, by the way, wished to be considered +tobacco-chewers, and usually carried a good-sized piece of the vile +weed in their pockets, though it must be confessed that the little they +consumed was rather for appearance sake, than because they liked it. +They also smoked occasionally, for the same reason. +</P> + +<P> +"You must spell us a word or two, first," said Alfred, in reply to +Andy's request. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I can't stop—got important business to negotiate," replied Andy. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you must," continued Alfred; "spell fun." +</P> + +<P> +"P-h-u-g-n," said Andy. +</P> + +<P> +"Spell hotel," continued Alfred. +</P> + +<P> +"H-o-e-t-e-l-l-e." +</P> + +<P> +"Spell calculate," said Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"K-a-l-k-e-w-l-a-i-g-h-t—there, that 'll do," continued Andy. +</P> + +<P> +"No, spell one more word—spell tobacco, and you shall have it," added +Alfred. +</P> + +<P> +"T-o-e-b-a-c-k-k-o-u-g-h—now hand over the 'baccy.'" +</P> + +<P> +"I have n't got any—have you, Oscar?" said Alfred +</P> + +<P> +Oscar fumbled in his pockets, but there was none to be found. +</P> + +<P> +"You mean, contemptible scalliwags!" exclaimed Andy, "why did n't you +tell me that before? You catch me in that trap again, if you can!" and +he walked off in a passion, amid the laughter of Oscar and Alfred. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's go and see the pups, Alf," said Oscar, after they had got done +laughing over the joke they had played upon Andy. +</P> + +<P> +Alfred's step-father had a fine dog of the hound species, with a litter +of cunning little pups. A bed had been made for her and the little +ones in a corner of the yard, adjoining the stable, with a rough +covering to shelter them from wind and storms. The pups were now +several weeks old. There were five of them, and a fat and frolicksome +set they were too. As the boys approached them, they were frisking and +capering as usual; tumbling and rolling over one another, climbing upon +the back of their mother, and pulling and barking at the straw. Their +mother, whose name was Bright, sat watching their gambols with a very +affectionate but sedate look. Perhaps she was wondering whether <I>she</I> +was ever so mischievous and frisky as these little fellows were. When +the pups looked up and saw the boys, they stopped their fun for a time, +for they were not yet much accustomed to company. Bright, however, +knew both Alfred and Oscar; and as she was a dog of good education and +accomplished manners, she did not allow herself to be disconcerted in +the least by their presence. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-056"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-056.jpg" ALT="Bright and Her Family." BORDER="2" WIDTH="296" HEIGHT="401"> +<H4> +[Illustration: Bright and Her Family.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +"You did n't know father had given all the pups but one to me, did you, +Oscar?" inquired Alfred. +</P> + +<P> +"No,—has he, though?" asked Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he has. I knew I could make him say yes, and so I teased him +till he did. He 's going to pick out one, to keep, and I 'm to have +all the rest." +</P> + +<P> +"That's first-rate," said Oscar; "and you 'll give me one, won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you may have one," replied Alfred; "but don't tell the boys I +gave it to you, for I mean to sell the others." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I 'll pay you for mine," continued Oscar; "I can get the money +out of father, I guess." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you shan't pay for it, for I meant you should have one of them, if +you wanted it," replied Alfred. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," said Oscar, "I should like one very much." +</P> + +<P> +After looking at the dogs awhile, and canvassing their respective +merits, they happened to notice that one of the drivers was about +starting off with his coach. +</P> + +<P> +"Halloo, Mack!" cried Alfred, "where are you going!" +</P> + +<P> +"To the depôt," replied the driver. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's go, Oscar," said Alfred; and both boys ran for the coach, the +driver stopping until they had climbed up to his seat. +</P> + +<P> +A ride of five minutes brought them to the depôt, where the driver +reined up, to await the arrival of a train, which was nearly due. Many +other carriages, of various kinds, were standing around the depôt, for +the same purpose. Oscar and Alfred rambled about the building and +adjoining grounds, watching the operations that were going on; for +though they had witnessed the same operations many times before, there +is something quite attractive about such scenes, even to older heads +than theirs. On one track, within the depôt, were six or eight cars, +beneath which a man was crawling along, carefully examining the running +gear, and giving each wheel two or three smart raps with a hammer, to +see if it had a clear and natural ring. These cars had lately arrived +from a distant city, and must undergo a careful scrutiny before they +are again used. If any break or flaw is discovered, the car is sent +out to the repair-shop. On another track, the men were making up the +next outward train. The particular baggage and passenger cars that +were to be used, had to be separated from the others, and arranged in +their proper order. Another track was kept clear, for the train that +was soon to arrive. Two or three locomotives, outside of the depôt, +were fizzing and hissing, occasionally moving back or forward, with a +loud coughing noise, or changing from one track to another. +</P> + +<P> +The bell of the looked-for train was at length heard. The engine, as +it approached, was switched upon a side-track, but the cars, from which +it had been detached, kept on their course until the brakes brought +them to a stand in the depôt. The passengers now swarmed forth by +hundreds—a curious and motley crowd of men, women, and children; +good-looking people, and ill-looking ones; the fine lady in silk, and +the rough backwoods-man in homespun; the middle-aged woman in black, +with three trunks and four bandboxes, and the smooth-faced dandy, whose +sole baggage was a slender cane. +</P> + +<P> +The cars were at length emptied of their living freight, and most of +the passengers had secured their baggage. Those who wished to ride, +had mostly engaged seats in the various hacks and coaches, whose +drivers accosted every passenger, as he got out of the cars, with their +invitations to "ride up." Alfred and Oscar now started to look after +the stage-coach in which they rode to the depôt. They found it loaded +with passengers and baggage, and the driver was talking with two small +lads, of from twelve to thirteen years of age. +</P> + +<P> +"Here, Alf," said the driver, "you are just the fellow I want, but I +thought you had gone. These boys want to go to the hotel, but I have +n't room to take them. They say they had just as lief walk, and if you +'ll let them go with you, I 'll take their trunk along." +</P> + +<P> +This was readily agreed to. The driver made room for the trunk on the +top of the coach, and the young strangers started for the hotel, in +company with Alfred and Oscar. As they walked along, they grew quite +sociable. The two new-comers,—who, by the way, were quite respectable +in their appearance,—stated that they belonged in one of the cities of +Maine, and had never been in Boston before. They were brothers; and +both their parents being dead, they said they were on their way to the +west, where they had an uncle, who had sent for them to come and live +with him. They had a good many questions to ask about Boston, and said +they meant to look around the city some the next day, as they must +resume their journey on Monday. Alfred said he would go with them, and +show them the principal sights; and Oscar, too, would have gladly +volunteered, were it not that his father required him to go to church +and the Sabbath-school on that day, and to stay in the house when not +thus engaged. +</P> + +<P> +The boys had now reached the hotel, where the trunk had already +arrived. A room was appropriated to the young guests, and Alfred and +Oscar conducted them to it, and remained awhile in conversation with +them. By-and-bye, the oldest of the strangers asked Alfred if he would +go and show them where they could buy some good pistols. Alfred +readily agreed to this, and the four boys started off towards the shops +where such articles are sold. On their way through the crowded +streets, the new-comers found much to attract their attention. They +seemed inclined to stop at every shop window, to admire some object, +and it was nearly dark when they reached the place where they were to +make their purchase. Here, amid the variety of pistols that were +exhibited to them, they were for a time unable to decide which to +choose. At length, however, aided by the advice of Alfred and Oscar, +they picked out two that they concluded to buy. They also purchased a +quantity of powder and balls, and then desired to look at some dirks, +two of which they decided to take. Some fine pocket-knives next +arrested their attention, which were examined, and greatly admired by +all the boys. The oldest of the strangers, who did all the business, +concluded to take four of these, and then settled for all the articles +purchased. The bill was not very small, but his pocket-book was +evidently well supplied, and he paid it with out any difficulty. +</P> + +<P> +After they had left the store, the oldest boy gave Oscar and Alfred, +each, one of the pocket-knives, to pay them for their trouble, as he +expressed it. They were much pleased with their present, and felt very +well satisfied with their afternoon's adventure. They were a little +surprised, however, that their new friends should think it necessary to +invest so largely in weapons of defence; and on their hinting this +surprise, the boy who purchased the articles said, with a careless, +business-like air: +</P> + +<P> +"O, we 've got to travel a good many hundred miles, and there 's no +knowing what rough fellows we may fall in with. But give me a good +revolver and dirk, and I bet I will take care of myself, anywhere." +</P> + +<P> +The seriousness with which this brave language was uttered by a boy +scarcely yet in his teens, would have made even Alfred and Oscar smile, +but for the consciousness of the new knives in their pockets. +</P> + +<P> +It was now quite dark, and on coming to a street which led more +directly towards his home, Oscar left the other boys, with the promise +of seeing them again Monday morning. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE YOUNG TRAVELLERS. +</H3> + + +<P> +The Sabbath came, and a fine autumnal day it was. Oscar's thoughts +were with Alfred, and the boys whose acquaintance he had made the +afternoon previous; but there was little chance for him to join them in +their walks on that day. He could not absent himself from church or +the Sunday-school, without his parents' knowledge; and Mr. Preston had +always decidedly objected to letting the children stroll about the +streets on the Sabbath. Oscar felt so uneasy, however, that in the +afternoon, a little while before meeting-time, he left the house slyly, +while his father was upstairs, and walked around to Alfred's. But he +saw nothing of the boys, and was in his accustomed seat in the church +when the afternoon services commenced. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning, Oscar rose earlier than usual, and as soon as he +could despatch his breakfast, he hurried over to the hotel. The +travellers had concluded to defer their journey one day longer, that +they might have a better opportunity to see Boston; and when Oscar +approached them, they were trying to persuade Alfred to stay away from +school, and accompany them in their rambles. They immediately extended +the same invitation to Oscar. Both he and Alfred felt very much +inclined to accede to their proposition, but they were pretty sure that +it would be useless to ask their parents' consent to absent themselves +from school for such a purpose. The point to be settled was, whether +it would be safe to play truant for the day. Seeing that they +hesitated, the oldest boy, whose name was Joseph, began to urge the +matter still more earnestly. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you afraid of?" he said; "come along, it's no killing affair +to stay away from school just for one day. You can manage so that +nobody will know it; and if they should find it out, it won't make any +difference a hundred years hence. Come, now, I 'll tell you what I 'll +do; if you two will go around with us to-day, I 'll give you a quarter +of a dollar apiece." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar and Alfred, after some little hesitation, yielded to their +request, and the four boys started on their tramp. It was not without +many misgivings, however, that Oscar decided to accompany them. With +him, the chances of detection were much greater than with Alfred. No +brothers of the latter attended school, to notice and report his +absence. With Oscar, the case was different, and he did not see +exactly how his truancy was to be concealed from his parents and +teachers. But as Alfred was going with the boys, he finally concluded +that he, too, would run the risk for at least half a day, and trust to +luck to escape punishment. +</P> + +<P> +It was decided to go over to the neighboring city of Charlestown, +first, and visit the Monument and Navy-Yard, both of which the young +strangers were quite anxious to see. Joseph, the oldest and most +forward, began to be on quite intimate terms with Oscar and Alfred. He +threw off every restraint, and laughed and talked with them just as if +they were old acquaintances. One thing very noticeable about him, was +his profanity. Neither Alfred nor Oscar, I am sorry to say, was +entirely free from this wicked and disgusting habit; but they had made +so little advance in this vice, compared with their new friend, that +even they were slightly shocked by the frequent and often startling +oaths of Joseph. +</P> + +<P> +The younger lad, whose name was Stephen, appeared to be quite unlike +his brother. Though sociable, he was less gay and more reserved than +Joseph, but he seemed to be much interested in the novel sights that +met his eye at every step. +</P> + +<P> +On their way, the boys came to a cellar which was occupied by a dealer +in fruits and other refreshments. Around the entrance were arranged +numerous boxes of oranges, apples, nuts, candy, and similar articles, +to tempt the passer-by to stop and purchase. The owner was not in +sight, and Joseph, as he passed along, boldly helped himself from one +of the boxes, taking a good hand-full of walnuts. On looking around, a +moment after, he saw a man running up the cellar steps, and concluded +that he, too, had better quicken his pace. He accordingly started on a +brisk run, the other boys joining in his flight. The man, who happened +to witness the theft from the back part of the cellar, soon saw that +pursuit would be useless, and contented himself with shaking his fist, +and uttering some anathemas which were inaudible to those for whom they +were intended. +</P> + +<P> +"That was a pretty narrow escape, was n't it?" said Joseph, after they +had got a safe distance from the man. +</P> + +<P> +"It was so," replied Alfred; "and it was lucky for you that he did n't +catch you." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what do you suppose he would have done?" +</P> + +<P> +"He would have taken you up for stealing, I guess, for he looked mad +enough to do anything," said Alfred. +</P> + +<P> +"Stealing? Pooh, a man must be a fool to make such a fuss about a +cent's-worth of nuts," replied Joseph. +</P> + +<P> +"I knew a boy," said Oscar, "who stole a cake of maple sugar from one +of these stands, and his father had to pay two or three dollars to get +him out of the scrape." +</P> + +<P> +"I would n't have done it," said Joseph; "I 'd have gone to jail +first—that 's just my pluck." +</P> + +<P> +"But the boy did n't do it—it was his father that paid the money," +added Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"O, then, I suppose the boy was n't to blame," said Joseph, with all +seriousness; as though he really believed that somebody was to blame, +not for stealing the maple sugar, but for satisfying the man who had +been injured by the theft. +</P> + +<P> +They were now upon one of the bridges which cross Charles River, and +connect the cities of Boston and Charlestown. After passing half-way +over, they stopped a few minutes to gaze at the scene spread out around +them. Oscar and Alfred pointed out to the strangers the various +objects of interest, and they then continued their walk without +interruption until they reached the Monument grounds, on Bunker Hill. +After examining the noble granite shaft which commemorates the first +great battle of the American Revolution, they threw themselves down +upon the grass, to contemplate at their leisure the fine panorama which +this hill affords on a clear day. +</P> + +<P> +After lingering half an hour around the Monument, they turned their +steps towards the Navy-Yard. On reaching it, they found a soldier +slowly pacing back and forth, in front of the gate-way; but he made no +objection to their entering. Joseph and Stephen, who had never before +visited an establishment of this kind, were first struck by the extent +of the yard, and the air of order and neatness which seemed everywhere +to prevail. They gazed with curiosity upon the long rows of iron +cannons interspersed with pyramids of cannon-balls, piled up in exact +order, which were spread out upon the parks. Then their wonder was +excited by the dry-dock, with its smooth granite walls, its massive +gates, and its capacious area, sufficient to float the largest frigate. +The lofty ship-houses in which vessels are constructed, and the long +stone rope-walk, with its curious machinery, also attracted their +attention. So interested were they in these things, that nearly two +hours elapsed before they started for home. +</P> + +<P> +On their way back to the hotel, Joseph entertained Alfred and Oscar +with some incidents of his life. His mother, he said, died when he was +quite young. His father went to sea as the captain of a ship, two +years before, and had never been heard from. He had rich relatives, +who wanted him to go to West Point and be a cadet, but he did not like +to study, and had persuaded them to let him and Stephen go and live +with their uncle at the west, who had no boys of his own, and wanted +somebody to help him to manage his immense farm. Such, in brief, was +Joseph's story. +</P> + +<P> +On their return route, the boys were careful to avoid passing by the +cellar from which Joseph had stolen the nuts. With all his pluck and +bravery, he did not care about meeting the man whose displeasure he had +excited a few hours before. +</P> + +<P> +It was twelve o'clock before the boys reached the hotel. Oscar, during +the latter part of the walk, had been unusually silent. He was +thinking how he should manage to conceal his truancy, but he could not +hit upon any satisfactory plan. The more he reflected upon the matter, +the more he was troubled and perplexed about it. He might possibly +hide his mis-spent forenoon from his parents, but how should he explain +his absence to his teachers? He could not tell. He decided, however, +to see his brothers before they should get home from school, and, if +they had noticed his absence, to prevail upon them to say nothing about +it. +</P> + +<P> +"You 'll be back again after dinner, Oscar?" said Alfred, as his friend +started for home. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Oscar, with some hesitation; "I 'll see you before +school-time." +</P> + +<P> +"School-time? You don't intend to go to school this afternoon, do +you?" inquired Alfred. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar did not reply, but hastened homeward. He soon found Ralph and +George, but as neither of them spoke of his absence from school, he +concluded that they were ignorant of it, and he therefore made no +allusion to the subject. +</P> + +<P> +After dinner, Oscar had about half an hour to spend with Alfred; for he +felt so uneasy in his mind, that he had decided not to absent himself +from school in the afternoon. He had gone but a short distance when he +met his comrade, who had started in pursuit of him. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said Alfred, "we 've been taken in nicely, that's a fact." +</P> + +<P> +"Taken in—what do you mean?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, by those young scamps that we 've been showing around town." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought they told great stories," said Oscar; "but what have you +found out about them?" +</P> + +<P> +"I 've found out that they are the greatest liars I ever came +across—or at least that the oldest fellow is," replied Alfred; and he +then went on to relate what transpired immediately after Oscar left +them, on their return from Charlestown. The landlord, it seems, +requested the two strange boys to step into one of the parlors; and +Alfred, not understanding the order, accompanied them. They found two +men seated there, the sight of whom seemed anything but pleasant to +Joseph and Stephen. These men were their fathers—for the boys were +not brothers, and Joseph's account of their past life and future +prospects was entirely false. They had run away from home, and the +money which they had so profusely spent, Joseph stole from his father. +The men, who had been put to much trouble in hunting up their wayward +sons, did not greet them very cordially. They looked stern and +offended, but said little. Joseph was obliged to deliver up his money +to his father, and they immediately made preparations for returning +home by the afternoon train. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said Oscar, when Alfred had concluded his story, "I did n't +believe all that boy said, at the time, but I thought I would n't say +so." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor I, neither," said Alfred. "I guess he did n't expect his father's +ship would arrive so suddenly, when he tried to stuff us up so." +</P> + +<P> +"Did your father know you went off with them in the forenoon?" inquired +Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but he did n't care much about it. He told me I must go to +school this afternoon, and not stay away again without leave." +</P> + +<P> +The rules of the school required a written note of excuse from the +parents, in case of absence. Neither of the boys was furnished with +such an excuse, and after a little consultation, they concluded that +their chances of escaping punishment would be greatest, if they should +frankly confess how they had been duped and led astray by the young +rogues whose acquaintance they had so suddenly and imprudently formed. +They supposed that the peculiar circumstances of the case, coupled with +a voluntary confession, might excite some degree of sympathy, rather +than displeasure, towards them. To make the matter doubly sure, it was +arranged that Alfred should speak to the master about the matter before +school commenced. +</P> + +<P> +When the boys reached the school-room, they found the master already at +his desk. He listened with interest to Alfred's story of the runaways, +and was evidently pleased that he had so frankly confessed his fault. +As the hour for commencing the afternoon session had arrived, he told +Alfred and Oscar they might stop after school, and he would take their +case into consideration. +</P> + +<P> +The afternoon passed away, without any unusual occurrence. When school +was dismissed, the teacher called Alfred and Oscar to his desk, and +gave them some excellent advice in regard to forming acquaintances, and +yielding to the solicitations of evil associates. He told them that +the deception which had been practiced upon them, should serve as a +lesson to them hereafter. They should not form sudden acquaintances +with strange and unknown boys, but should choose their associates from +among those whom they knew to be of good habits. He also earnestly +cautioned them against yielding to the enticements of those who would +persuade them to do wrong. He told them that whenever they laid the +blame of their faults upon others, they made a sad confession of their +own moral weakness. They must often encounter temptations, and evil +examples and influences, even if they took pains to avoid them; but +they were not obliged to yield to these influences. They must learn to +resist temptation, or they would speedily be swept away before it. +</P> + +<P> +Having faithfully pointed out their error and danger, the teacher +dismissed the boys. They listened respectfully to his advice, and, +when they were beyond his hearing, chuckled over their escape from a +species of admonition that might have proved far more feeling and +affecting, if not more salutary, than the kindly-meant reproof which +had been administered to them. The leniency of the teacher, however, +must be attributed to his not fully understanding the character of +their offence; for Alfred had so artfully represented the facts of the +case, as to make their truancy appear in a milder light than it +deserved to be regarded. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WORK. +</H3> + + +<P> +"Oscar, go down cellar and get some coal," said Mrs. Preston one +evening, when the fire was getting low. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm reading—you go and get it, Ralph," said Oscar, without looking +up from the newspaper in his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I shan't," replied Ralph; "I 've done all your chores to-day, and +I won't do any more." +</P> + +<P> +"Tell Bridget to bring it up, then," added Oscar, his eyes still +fastened upon his paper. +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar," said Mrs. Preston, sharply, "I told you to get it, and do you +obey me, this minute. Bridget has worked hard all day, and Ralph has +already had to do several errands and jobs that you ought to have done, +and that is the reason why I did not ask them to get the coal. You +have done nothing but play, when you were out of school, since morning, +and now, when I ask you to do a trifling thing, you try to shirk it +upon somebody else. I do wish you would break yourself of your +laziness, and have a little consideration for other people." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar reluctantly obeyed his mother's order. Indeed, it was seldom +that he was very prompt to obey, when any kind of labor was required of +him. He had a peculiar knack of getting rid of work. If he was +directed to do a thing, he was almost sure to try to coax Alice, or +Ella, or Ralph, or Bridget, or somebody else, to do it for him. He +never taxed his own legs, or hands, or muscles, when he could make use +of other people's. This lazy habit was a source of no small anxiety to +his mother, and was a constant annoyance to all the family. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you did make out to get it," said Mrs. Preston, in a pleasant +tone, when Oscar returned with the coal. "I hope it did n't hurt you +much." +</P> + +<P> +"I was n't afraid of its hurting me," said Oscar "but I was reading, +and did n't want to stop." +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid that is only an excuse," replied his mother. "It has +really got to be a habit with you to call upon somebody else, whenever +you are told to do a thing. We have all noticed it, a hundred times, +and you alone seem to be blind to it. In a year or two, when you are +old enough to leave school, and go to a place, what do you suppose you +will be good for, if you keep on in this way? Why, the man who should +take you into his employ, would have to hire another boy on purpose to +wait upon you." +</P> + +<P> +"It is just as mother says, Oscar," added his eldest sister, Alice. +"It was only this morning that Bridget was scolding, because you wanted +to be waited upon so much. She says you make her more trouble than all +the rest of us together." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar could not deny these charges, and so he said nothing, but +appeared to be reading his newspaper very intently. Mr. Preston came +in soon after, and the family sat down to tea. +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar," said Mr. Preston, "next week is vacation, is it not?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I shall want you in the store a part of the time," continued his +father. "Frank is going home to spend Thanksgiving, and as it will be +a busy week with us, we must have somebody to take his place." +</P> + +<P> +"Why can't Henry do the errands while Frank is away?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Because Henry will have as much other work as he can attend to," +replied Mr. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see why you let Frank go off at such a time," said Oscar, +pettishly. +</P> + +<P> +"It is not necessary that you should see," replied his father. "I can +manage my business without any advice from you, and I don't want you to +call me to account for what I do. I have given Frank a vacation, and I +shall expect assistance from you—that is all it is necessary for you +to know about it." +</P> + +<P> +Frank was the errand-boy in Mr. Preston's shop. Henry, upon whom Oscar +wished to lay the burden occasioned by Frank's absence, was a young +clerk, who had formerly served as chore-boy, but was now quite useful +as a salesman. +</P> + +<P> +It was evident, from Oscar's looks, that he did not much relish the +idea of taking Frank's place for a week. His mother, noticing this, +said: +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Oscar, I thought you and Frank were good friends, and I should +suppose you would be willing to relieve him a few days. The poor boy +has been away from his mother nearly a year, and it is natural that he +should want to go home and spend Thanksgiving. If you were in his +place, and he in yours, don't you think you should like the arrangement +your father proposes?" +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose I should," replied Oscar; "but it's hard for me to lose my +vacation, for the sake of letting him have one." +</P> + +<P> +"You will not lose all your vacation," said his father "If you are +lively, you can do all I shall want you to do in four or five hours, +and have the rest of the day to yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"And I 'll help you, too," said Ralph, who was always ready to offer +his assistance in such a case as this. +</P> + +<P> +"Thanksgiving week" soon arrived, and the busy note of preparation for +the approaching festival was heard throughout the house. Bridget was +invested with a new dignity, in the eyes of the children, as she +bustled about among the mince-meat and the pie-crust, the eggs and the +milk, the fruit and the spices, that were to be compounded into all +sorts of good things. The house was filled with savory odors from the +oven, and long rows of pies began to fill up every vacant space in the +closet. Mrs. Preston was busy, superintending the operations of the +household; while Alice and Ella rendered such assistance as they could, +in the chopping of pie-meat, the paring of apples, the picking of +raisins, &c. The boys, for their share, had an unusual number of +errands to run, to keep the busy hands inside supplied with working +materials. Oscar, however, was released for the week from all home +chores, in consideration of his engagements at the store. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar did not find his duties as temporary store-boy quite so irksome +or disagreeable as he anticipated. The work was light, and the novelty +of it served to offset the confinement, which he had dreaded more than +anything else. With some assistance from Ralph, he managed to do all +that was required of him, and still have several hours each day for +play. He also had an opportunity to learn some useful lessons during +the week. +</P> + +<P> +One morning, his father sent him up-stairs to sweep out a room which +was devoted to a certain branch of the business. Happening to go into +it an hour or two after, Mr. Preston observed that it was in a dirty +state, and called to Oscar to get a broom and sprinkler, and come up. +</P> + +<P> +"I told you to sweep this room out," said he, as Oscar made his +appearance; "did you forget it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I <I>have</I> swept it," said Oscar, in a tone of surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"You have?" exclaimed Mr. Preston, with an air of incredulity; "I guess +you are mistaken. You may have shaken the broom at it, but I don't +think you swept it. See there—and there—and there,"—and he pointed +out numerous little heaps of dirt, and scraps of paper, which had +escaped Oscar's broom. "Now," he continued, "let me show you how to +sweep. In the first place, always sprinkle the floor a little, to +prevent the dust flying, as I told you a day or two ago. You omitted +that this morning, did n't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, just remember it hereafter, for the dust injures the goods. +There 's water enough, now pass me the broom, and I 'll show you how to +handle it. Look, now—that 's the way to sweep—get all the dirt out +from the corners and crevices, and along the edges, and under the +counters. Use the broom as though you meant to do something, and were +not afraid of it. There, that 's the way to sweep clean—so—and so," +and Mr. Preston continued his explanations and illustrations, until he +had swept the entire floor. +</P> + +<P> +"There, now, does n't that look better?" he added, after he had +finished sweeping. "If a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth +doing well—that's the true doctrine, Oscar. I hope you won't get in +the habit of making half-way work with whatever you undertake. If I +never expected to do anything but sweep chimneys or dig clams for a +living, I would do it thoroughly and faithfully. Of all things, I +despise a lazy, slovenly workman." +</P> + +<P> +It was a very common thing with Oscar to slight his work, when he could +not get rid of it entirely. This was partly the result of a want of +interest in it, and partly the result of habit. The child who performs +a task reluctantly, will not be very likely to do it well. +</P> + +<P> +The day before Thanksgiving, as Oscar was on his way to the store, +after dinner, he met Alfred Walton. +</P> + +<P> +"You 're just the chap I 'm after, Oscar," said Alfred; "I'm going out +to Cambridge, all alone in a wagon, and I want you to go with me. +Come, jump in and go, won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +This was a tempting invitation to Oscar, but he did not see how he +could accept it. He was needed at the store more than ever, that +afternoon, but it was too bad to lose such a fine chance to enjoy +himself. Alfred was in a hurry, and could not stop long for him to +consider the matter. So he concluded to run home, and ask his father's +permission, while Alfred went and got the horse ready. But when he got +home, his father had left. He found Ralph, however, who readily agreed +to take his place at the store, for the afternoon; and on the strength +of this arrangement, he hurried to the hotel and rode off with Alfred. +</P> + +<P> +It was a mild, pleasant afternoon, and the boys had a fine ride. +Alfred had been among horses so much, that he understood their +management pretty well, and was a very good driver. He prided himself +on his ability to turn a neat corner, and to steer through the +narrowest and most crooked passage-ways, such as abound in the +contracted and crowded streets of a city. When they reached the broad +avenues of Cambridge, he allowed Oscar to take the reins awhile, at his +request. +</P> + +<P> +Alfred's step-father had been out to Cambridge, in the forenoon of the +same day, and had purchased a horse at the cattle-market which is held +weekly at that place. As he was obliged to return home by the cars, he +left word that he would send out for the horse, in the afternoon. This +was Alfred's errand. After several inquiries, the boys found the man +who sold the horse. Having examined the new purchase, and freely +expressed their opinions of the animal's "points," they hitched his +halter to the wagon, and set out for home. +</P> + +<P> +The sun was rapidly descending, when the boys reached the hotel stable. +Oscar, who felt somewhat uneasy about his absence from the store, +turned his steps in that direction, soon after he alighted from the +wagon. He found all hands very busy, and for a long time no one +appeared to notice him. At length his father happened to come to the +part of the shop where he was, and asked him where he had been all the +afternoon. Oscar proceeded to explain the cause of his absence, but +Mr. Preston was in too much of a hurry to listen to his long excuses, +and so he cut him short, and told him, in not very pleasant tones, that +Ralph had done the work, and he (Oscar) might go home again, just as +soon as he pleased—a privilege of which he quickly availed himself. +</P> + +<P> +At the tea-table, that evening, Mr. Preston expressed his displeasure +with Oscar's conduct in very pointed terms. Oscar now explained the +circumstances of his going away—his attempt to get his father's +consent, and the promise of Ralph to supply his place. But the +explanation did not satisfy Mr. Preston. He said Oscar knew he was +needed that afternoon, and he ought not to have asked to go away, or +even to have thought of it. Even if Ralph was willing to do his work, +he did not like his putting so much upon his younger and weaker +brother. He then complimented Ralph for his industry, and his +willingness to make himself useful, and held him up to Oscar as a +pattern he would do well to imitate. He concluded his lecture to the +latter, by drawing from his pocket a quarter of a dollar, and +presenting it to Ralph, as a reward for his services. This touched +Oscar's feelings rather more than his father's reproofs. He thought to +himself that he had performed as much work in the store as Ralph, to +say the least, and was therefore as much entitled to a reward as he. +There was this difference, however, which he entirely overlooked: Oscar +did his share of the work reluctantly and from compulsion; Ralph did +his cheerfully and voluntarily, and solely for the purpose of making +himself useful. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THANKSGIVING-DAY. +</H3> + + +<P> +Thanksgiving-Day had come. Among the multitude of good things it +brought with it, not the least important, in the eyes of the children, +was a visit from their grandmother, Mrs. Lee, who arrived the evening +previous. She was the mother of Mrs. Preston, and lived in a distant +town in Vermont. She had not visited the family for several years, and +the children and their parents were all very glad to see her once more. +She was much surprised to find how the young folks had grown since she +last saw them. Alice had shot up into a young lady, Oscar, who she +remembered as "a little bit of a fellow," was a tall boy, Ella, too, +was quite a miss, and Georgie, "the baby," had long since exchanged his +frock for the jacket, trowsers, and boots, of boyhood. All these +changes had happened since their grandmother's last visit; and yet she +was just the same pleasant, talkative old lady that she was years ago. +The children could not discover that time had left so much as one new +wrinkle on her well-remembered face. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-089"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-089.jpg" ALT="Thanksgiving Market Scene." BORDER="2" WIDTH="140" HEIGHT="258"> +<H4> +[Illustration: Thanksgiving Market Scene.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +After breakfast, their grandmother proceeded to unpack her trunk. From +its capacious depths she drew forth sundry articles,—specimens of her +own handiwork,—which she distributed among the children, as gifts. +They were all articles of utility, such as warm, "country-knit" mittens +and socks for the boys, and tippets and stockings for the girls. A +large bag filled with nuts, and another of pop-corn, were also among +the contents of the trunk, and were handed to the children to be +divided among them. +</P> + +<P> +In accordance with an agreement made the day before, Oscar soon left +the house, and went in search of Alfred. Having found him, they set +out for South Boston, in company with two or three boys, to witness a +shooting-match got up by a man who worked about the stable. The spot +selected for the sport was a retired field, where there was little +danger of being interrupted. On reaching the ground, the boys found a +small collection of young men and lads already engaged in the cruel +amusement; for the mark was a live fowl, tied to a stake. The company +assembled were of a decidedly low order, and Oscar at first felt almost +ashamed to be seen among them. Smoking, swearing, betting, and +quarrelling, were all going on at once, interspersed with occasional +shouts of laughter at some vulgar joke, or at the fluttering and cries +of a wounded fowl. Sometimes a poor chicken would receive several +shots, before its misery would be terminated by a fatal one. When one +fowl was killed, a fresh one was brought forth. Each man who fired at +the mark, paid a trifling sum for the privilege, and was entitled to +the fowl, if he killed it. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar and his young companions lingered around the grounds for an hour +or two, familiarizing themselves with scenes of shameful cruelty, and +breathing an atmosphere loaded with pollution and moral death. The +repugnance which Oscar at first felt to the party and its doings was so +far overcome, that before he left he himself fired one or two shots, +with a rifle which was lent to him. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar reached home before the hour for dinner. As he entered the +sitting-room, his mother, who had missed him, inquired where he had +been all the forenoon. +</P> + +<P> +"I 've been with Alf," he replied. +</P> + +<P> +His mother did not notice this evasion of her question, but added: +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you want to be with Alfred so much? It seems to me you might +find better company. I 'm afraid he is not so good a boy as he might +be. I don't like his looks very much." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, mother," said Oscar, "Alf is n't a bad boy, and I never heard +anybody say he was. I like him first-rate—he 's a real clever fellow." +</P> + +<P> +"He may be clever enough, but I do not think he is a very good +associate for you," replied Mrs. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"Who ought to know best about that, you or I?" said Oscar, with a +pertness for which he was becoming a little too notorious. "I see Alf +every day, but you don't know hardly anything about him. At my rate, I +'ll risk his hurting me." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar's grandmother looked at him with astonishment, as he uttered +these words. He felt the silent rebuke, and turned his head from her. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," added Mrs. Preston, "if Alfred is not a bad boy himself, I do +not believe that the kind of people you spend so much of your time +with, around the hotel-stable, will do either you or him any good. The +lessons a boy learns among tavern loungers do not generally make him +any better, to say the least. I wish you would keep away from such +places—I should feel a good deal easier if you would." +</P> + +<P> +The subject was dropped, and dinner,—the event of Thanksgiving-day, in +every New England home,—soon began to engross the attention of the +household. It was a pleasant feast, to old and young. The children +forgot all their little, fanciful troubles, and the traces of care were +chased from their parents' brows for the hour. +</P> + +<P> +The afternoon was stormy, and the children amused themselves with +in-door sports. After tea, however, Oscar asked his father for some +money, to buy a ticket to an entertainment that was to take place in +the evening. But both his parents thought he had better stay at home, +with the rest of the family, and he reluctantly yielded to their +wishes, coupled with the promise of a story or two from his +grandmother, about old times. +</P> + +<P> +A cheerful fire was burning in the grate, when the family returned to +the parlor, from the tea-table. The lamps were not yet lit, although +the gray twilight was fast settling down, and the ruddy coals began to +reflect themselves from the polished furniture. Mrs. Preston was about +to light the lamps, when Ella exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, mother, don't light the lamps—let's sit in the dark awhile, +and then grandmother's stories will seem twice as romantic. You don't +want a light, do you, grandmother?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," said the grandmother, "I can talk just as well in the dark. But +I don't know as I can tell you any very interesting stories. I can't +think of anything now but what you have already heard. That's just the +way when I want to tell a story. If I was all alone, I should think of +lots of things to tell you." +</P> + +<P> +"Can't you tell us something about the Indians?—I like to hear about +them," said Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"You would like to know how they served naughty boys, would n't you?" +inquired his grandmother; and if the room had not been quite so dark, +Oscar would have seen something like a roguish twinkle in her sober +gray eye, as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"O yes, grandmother," interrupted Ella, "that will suit him, I know. +At any rate, it ought to interest him—so please to tell us what they +did to their bad boys, and perhaps we shall learn how to serve Oscar." +</P> + +<P> +"And while you are about it, grandmother," said Oscar, "tell us what +they did to naughty girls, too." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know how they punished girls," said the old lady; "but I have +heard it said that when they wished to punish a boy very severely, they +made him lie down on the ground, upon his back. They then put their +knees on his arms, and held his head back, while they took into their +mouth some very bitter stuff, made from the roots of a certain plant, +and squirted it into the boy's nose. They kept repeating the dose, +till the poor fellow was almost strangled, and I suppose by that time +he was cured of his fault." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh, was that all?" said Oscar; "I thought something terrible was +coming." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess you would not like to try the Indian remedy more than once," +replied his mother; "but if you think it is so pleasant to take, +perhaps your father will give you a taste of it, one of these days, if +you do not behave better than you have done of late." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you ever get frightened by the Indians, grandmother?" inquired +Ralph. +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied the old lady; "there were plenty of them around, when I +was a little girl, but they had got to be quite civil, and we were not +afraid of them. I wish I could remember all the stories my mother used +to tell me about them—they were plenty and troublesome, too, in her +day. I recollect one fight that took place in our neighborhood, when +she was young. One evening, a man who was returning from another +settlement, happened to discover a party of Indians, making their way +very quietly up the river in their canoes, towards our little village. +He watched their movements as narrowly as possible, but was careful not +to let them see or hear him. When they got within about half a mile of +the settlement, they pulled their canoes ashore, and concealed them +among the bushes. They meant to creep along very slowly and slily, the +rest of the way, and then fall suddenly upon the whites, and murder and +plunder them before they could know what the matter was. But the man +who discovered them hurried on to the settlement, and gave the alarm. +Ten men was all he could muster, for there were but a few families in +the town. These men armed themselves, and by the time they were ready +for action, the Indians had already begun their work of plunder. +</P> + +<P> +"But the Indians were not cunning enough for the white folks, that +time. The settlers formed themselves into two parties—one of seven +and one of three men. The three men went down very cautiously to the +Indian's landing-place, and after cutting slits in their bark canoes, +they hid themselves, and awaited the result. While they were doing +this, the other party made such a furious and sudden attack upon the +enemy, that the Indians thought they were assailed by a force far +superior to their own, and so they fled as fast as they could. When +they reached the landing-place, they jumped pell-mell into their +canoes, and pushed out into the stream. Now they thought they would +soon be out of the reach of harm; but, to their astonishment, the +canoes began to fill with water, and were entirely unmanageable. The +three men in ambush now began to attack them, and pretty soon the other +seven came to their aid, and in a little while the Indians were all +shot or drowned, and not one of the party escaped, to inform their +kindred what had befallen them. The stream on which this happened is +called Laplot River. Laplot, they say, means 'the plot,' and a good +many people think the river got its name from the stratagem of the +settlers, but I don't know how that is." +</P> + +<P> +After musing awhile in silence, Ralph called for another story. +</P> + +<P> +"Let me see," said his grandmother; "did I ever tell you about Widow +Storey's retreat, in the Revolution!" +</P> + +<P> +"No ma'am," said Oscar; "I've read about General Burgoyne's retreat; +but I never heard of Widow Storey before: who was she?" +</P> + +<P> +"O, it was n't that kind of a retreat that I meant," said his +grandmother; "but I will tell you who she was. She lived in Salisbury, +some twenty or thirty miles from where I belong. Her husband was the +first man who settled in Salisbury, but he was very unfortunate. After +he had worked hard, and got a log cabin ready for his family, it took +fire, and was destroyed; and he himself was killed by the fall of a +tree, soon after. But his widow was a very smart woman; and though she +had eight or ten small children, she moved on to the place her husband +had selected; and the proprietors of the township gave her a hundred +acres of land to encourage and reward her. She worked just like a man, +and didn't mind chopping down trees, and cultivating the soil, with her +own hands. But by-and-bye the Revolution broke out, and as there were +British soldiers in the neighborhood, she was afraid they would make +her a visit. She fled several times to another town, where there was +less danger; but after awhile a new idea entered her head, and she +proceeded to carry it out, with the aid of a man who lived near her. +The idea was, to construct a hiding-place, where the British could not +find them, if they should pay her a visit. They selected a spot on +Otter Creek, and dug a hole right into the bank, horizontally. The +hole was a little above the water, and was just large enough for a +person to crawl into. It was so covered up by bushes that hung from +the bank, that a stranger would not notice it. This passage led to a +large lodging-room, the bottom of which was covered with straw. Good +comfortable beds were prepared, and here the families found a secure +retreat, until the danger was past." +</P> + +<P> +"That was complete," said Oscar; "but I should think the British might +have tracked them to their retreat, for it's likely they had to go home +pretty often, to get food, and look after things." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," added his grandmother; "but they reached their retreat by a +canoe, so that no footsteps could be seen leading to it; and they were +careful not to go out or in during the day-time. I have heard my +brother James tell about it. I believe he saw the very hole once, +where they went in." +</P> + +<P> +"Uncle James was a famous hand for telling stories," remarked Mrs. +Preston. "I shall never forget what a treat it was to me, when I was a +child, to have him come to our house. I used to run out and meet him, +when I saw him coming, and coax him to tell me a good lot of stories +before he went off. I can remember some of them even now. He used to +tell a story of a crabbed old fellow, who was very much annoyed by the +boys stealing his apples. So, after awhile, he got a spring-trap, and +set it under the trees, to catch the young rogues. But the boys got +wind of the affair, and the first night he set it, they picked it up, +and very quietly put it on his door-step, and then went back to the +orchard, and began to bellow as though they were in great distress. +The old man heard the uproar, and started out, in high glee at the idea +of catching his tormentors; but he hardly put his foot out of the door, +before he began to roar himself, and he was laid up a month with a sore +leg." +</P> + +<P> +"That was old Zigzag," said the grandmother; "I knew him very well." +</P> + +<P> +"Old Zigzag!—what a funny name!" exclaimed Ralph. +</P> + +<P> +"That was n't his name, although he always went by it," added the old +lady. "He was a very odd character, and one of his peculiarities was, +that he never walked directly towards any place or object he wished to +reach, but went in a 'criss-cross,' zigzag way, like a ship beating and +tacking before a head-wind. He was a hard drinker, and was almost +continually under the influence of liquor, and perhaps that was the +cause of his singular habit. He was a terribly ugly fellow, when he +was mad, and the boys used to tease him in every possible way; but wo +to them if he got hold of them. He lived all alone, for he never had +any wife or children; and he would not allow anybody to enter his +house, on any account, but always kept the door locked. If his +neighbors had business to transact with him, he would step into the +yard and attend to them; but even in the severest weather, he would not +let them cross his threshold. He never would speak to or look at a +woman, and would always avoid meeting them, if possible. Poor fellow, +he had a dreadful end. He was missing for several days, and at last +some of the town's-people broke into his house, and found him dead, +with his head badly burned. They supposed he was intoxicated, and +fell, striking his head upon the andiron, which stunned him; and while +he lay helpless, he was so badly burned that he soon died. And that +was the last of poor old Zigzag." +</P> + +<P> +"There was another story Uncle James used to tell, about the naming of +Barre, in Vermont; do you recollect it, mother?" inquired Mrs. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed, and I 've heard old Dr. Paddock tell it many a time. He +was there, and saw it all. The people did n't like the name of their +town, which was Wildersburgh, and determined to have a new one, and so +they met together in town-meeting, to talk the matter over. One of the +leading men came from Barre, Massachusetts, and he wanted the town to +take that name. Another prominent citizen came from Holden, +Massachusetts, and he insisted that the town should be called Holden. +The people liked both of these names well enough, and it was finally +determined that the question should be decided by a game of boxing, +between these two men. So the meeting adjourned to a new barn, with a +rough hemlock plank floor, and the contest commenced. After boxing +awhile, one of them threw the other upon the floor, and sprang upon him +at full length; but the one who was underneath dealt his blows so +skilfully, that his opponent soon gave in; and rolling the Holden man +out of the way, he jumped up and shouted, 'There, the name is Barre!' +and Barre it hasten, to this day. The next day, the man who won this +victory had to call on the doctor to extract from his back the hemlock +splinters he had received while struggling on the barn floor." +</P> + +<P> +Thus the evening was beguiled with stories, mingled with a few songs by +Alice and Ella, and a few favorite airs upon the piano-forte. Before +the hour of retiring arrived, even Oscar was quite reconciled to the +loss of the evening's entertainment away from home which he had +promised himself. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +GRANDMOTHER LEE. +</H3> + + +<P> +Mrs. Lee, the grandmother of the Preston children, remained with the +family for several weeks, after Thanksgiving. Her visit was, on the +whole, a pleasant one, though there were some shadows thoughtlessly +cast over it by the children. Age had somewhat impaired her sense of +hearing, but yet she always wanted to understand everything that was +said in her presence. Often, when the children were talking to each +other in a low tone, she would ask them what they were saying. Ella +did not like these interruptions, and was the first to complain of them. +</P> + +<P> +"O dear," said she, one day, "I do wonder what makes grandmother so +inquisitive. I really believe she thinks we are talking about her all +the time. I can't open my mouth, but she wants to know what I said. +Don't you think she is getting childish, Alice?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Ella!" exclaimed Alice, in astonishment, "I should think you +would be ashamed to speak so of your poor old grandmother. What do you +think mother would say if she knew what you said!" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't help it," replied Ella; "I don't see why grandmother need be +so curious about every little thing that's said. I mean to ask her +some time when I have a good chance." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think you had better, Miss Impudence," said Alice; "perhaps +she would like to have you give her some lessons in good behavior." +</P> + +<P> +Alice did not for a moment suppose that her sister meant to speak to +their grandmother upon this subject. But she had miscalculated the +pertness of Ella. A day or two after this, as several of the children +were talking among themselves, the attention of the old lady was +arrested. She could not hear distinctly what they said, but Oscar took +a prominent part in the conversation; and a moment after, on his +leaving the room, she asked Ella what he wanted. +</P> + +<P> +"O, it was n't anything that you care about, grandma'am," replied Ella. +</P> + +<P> +"Is that the way your mother teaches you to answer questions, Ella?" +inquired Mrs. Lee, in a mild, reproachful tone. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, grandmother," replied Alice, with considerable earnestness; "I +shall tell mother how impudently she spoke to you. A boy has given a +little dog to Oscar, and that was what he was telling us about, just +before he went out." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, grandmother," added Ella, "I did n't mean to be impudent; but I +'ve noticed that you always want to hear what everybody says, even when +they are not talking to you, and mother says that is n't polite." +</P> + +<P> +"I am much obliged to you, my dear," replied her grandmother, very +meekly; "after I have taken a few more lessons from you, perhaps I +shall know how to behave." +</P> + +<P> +The feelings of the old lady were more hurt by the rudeness of Ella, +than her mild rebukes indicated. Alice felt bound to inform her mother +of what had taken place; and Mrs. Preston was greatly mortified, on +learning that her little daughter had spoken so impudently to her aged +mother. She apologized for Ella, as well as she could, by saying that +she was naturally forward and impulsive. At noon, when the children +returned from school, she called Ella into a room by herself, and +talked with her about her conduct. At first, Ella tried to justify +herself; but after awhile her better nature triumphed, and she felt +heartily ashamed of her treatment of her grandmother. To think that +she, a girl eleven years old, should have attempted to teach her aged +grandmother politeness, and in such an uncivil way, too! No wonder she +hung her head in shame. +</P> + +<P> +To be candid, perhaps Ella's grandmother was a little too inquisitive +to know what was going on around her. But this was one of the +infirmities of old age which were slowly stealing upon her, and which +the young should regard with pity and forbearance, but never with a +censorious spirit. +</P> + +<P> +Ella was really a good-hearted girl, when her generous feelings were +aroused. From that day, she treated her grandmother with marked +kindness and respect; and her unfortunate attempt to rebuke the +venerable woman was never alluded to again. +</P> + +<P> +Among the articles which Mrs. Lee brought from the country, for the +children, was a small bag of corn for popping. One evening, George +happened to think of this corn, which none of them had yet tried; and +partly filling one of his pockets from the bag, he slipped quietly into +the kitchen, and commenced popping it by Bridget's fire. There was no +person in the kitchen but himself, and putting a handfull of corn in +the wire popper, it soon began to snap and jump about, the hard, yellow +kernels bursting forth into light and beautiful milk-white balls. But +by-and-bye the savory odor of the corn found its way up stairs, and +Ella and Ralph ran down to get their share of the treat. George had +put the corn upon the table to cool, as fast as it was popped; but when +he heard footsteps approaching, he scrambled it into his pocket as +quick as possible. +</P> + +<P> +"Halloo, popped corn! Give me some, Georgie, won't you?" said Ralph. +</P> + +<P> +"And me, too," added Ella. +</P> + +<P> +"No I shan't, either," said George; "I popped it for myself." +</P> + +<P> +"You're real stingy," replied Ella; "but no matter, Ralph and I will +pop some for ourselves. Where is the bag?" +</P> + +<P> +"You must find it for yourselves—I had to," was George's selfish +reply, as he gathered the last of his popped corn into his pocket, +badly burning his fingers, in his anxiety lest his brother or sister +should get hold of a kernel or two. +</P> + +<P> +Ella and Ralph commenced searching for the bag of corn, but they could +not find it. They looked in every place where they supposed it might +be, but in vain. Their mother had gone to bed with a sick headache, or +they would have ascertained where it was from her. At length they gave +up the search, and returned to the sitting-room, in no very pleasant +frame of mind. +</P> + +<P> +"I do declare, George," said Ella, "you are the meanest boy I ever +heard of." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what is the matter with George?" inquired his grandmother. +</P> + +<P> +"He 's been popping some of the corn you gave us," replied Ella; "and +he won't give us a kernel of it, nor tell us where the bag is, so that +we can pop some for ourselves." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, George," said Mrs. Lee, "that is too bad; I would tell them where +the corn is, for I intended it as much for them as for you." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care," said George; "they've called me mean and stingy, and +now they may find it for themselves." +</P> + +<P> +"We did n't call you mean and stingy till you refused to tell us where +it was," added Ella. +</P> + +<P> +"If I could find it, I guess you would n't get another kernel of it," +said Ralph, addressing George; "I'd burn it all up first." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, Ralph, that is wrong," replied his grandmother. "The corn is +n't worth quarrelling about. If George wants to be selfish, and keep +it all to himself, I 'll send down some more for the rest of you, when +I go home. But I guess Georgie does n't mean to be selfish," she +added, coaxingly; "he only wants to plague you a little, that's all. +He 'll tell you where he found the corn, pretty soon." +</P> + +<P> +George, who was growing uneasy under this combined attack, now +retreated to bed, leaving his grandmother more astonished than ever at +his obstinacy. +</P> + +<P> +"There," said Alice, "it's of no use to try to drive or coax him out of +his selfishness. Mother says he 'll outgrow it by-and-bye, but I don't +see as there is any prospect of it. You know what made him so selfish, +don't you, grandmother?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid he has been humored too much," replied Mrs. Lee. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he has been," added Alice; "but you know when he was little, he +was very sick for a whole year, and the doctor said he must n't be +crossed any more than we could help, for crying and fretting were very +bad for him. So he had his own way in everything, and if we children +had anything he wanted, we had to give it to him, and let him break it +to pieces, for he would scream as loud as he could, if we refused him. +This was the way he got to be so selfish; and now he thinks we must +humor him just as we did when he was sick." +</P> + +<P> +"There is some little excuse for him, if he fell into the habit when he +was very young and sick," observed Mrs. Lee; "but he is old enough and +well enough now to know better, and ought to be broken of the fault." +</P> + +<P> +"Father and mother have tried to break him of it," replied Alice, "but +they have not succeeded very well yet. They have talked to him a good +deal about it, but it does no good." +</P> + +<P> +The next day, the children found the bag of corn, and their mother told +George she should punish him for his selfishness by not letting him +have any more of it. The corn was accordingly divided among the other +children, and thus George, in trying to get more than his share, +actually got less than the others did. +</P> + +<P> +It was about this time that Oscar came into possession of the pup which +Alfred Walton had promised him two or three weeks before. He at first +had some difficulty in obtaining the consent of his mother to bring it +home. She thought it would be troublesome, and tried to dissuade him +from taking it; but Oscar's heart was so strongly set upon the dog, +that she at length reluctantly assented to its being admitted as an +inmate of the family. +</P> + +<P> +Fastening a string to the neck of the dog, Oscar led him to his new +home, where he received every attention from the younger members of the +family. Quite a grave discussion at once ensued, as to what the name +of the new-comer should be. Each of the children had a favorite name +to propose, but Oscar rejected them all, and said the dog should be +called "Tiger;" and so that became his name, but it was usually +abbreviated to "Tige." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-114"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-114.jpg" ALT="Tiger's Countenance." BORDER="2" WIDTH="282" HEIGHT="264"> +<H4> +[Illustration: Tiger's Countenance.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Tiger had grown very rapidly, and was now about twice as large as he +was when Alfred promised Oscar one of his litter of pups. He was a +handsome fellow, especially about the head, as you may see by his +portrait. At times, he looked as old and grave as his mother; but for +all that, he was a great rogue, and there was very little dignity or +soberness about him. He was brim-full of fun, and would play with +anybody or anything that would allow him to take that liberty. He +would amuse himself for hours with an old shoe or rag that he had found +in the street, and it seemed as if he never would get tired of shaking, +and tearing, and biting it. This disposition sometimes led him into +mischief, in the house; but he was always so happy, so good-natured and +so affectionate, that it was difficult to blame him very hard for his +misconduct. If Oscar's grandmother happened to drop her ball of yarn, +when Tige was about, he would seize it in an instant, and she would +have to work hard to get it away from him. She kept her work in a bag, +which she usually hung upon the back of a chair; but one day, the +little rogue pulled the bag down upon the floor, and had its various +contents scattered all about the room, before the old lady noticed what +he was doing. +</P> + +<P> +These mischievous pranks were very amusing to Oscar, and he set all the +more by Tiger, on account of this trait in his character. The other +members of the family, too, seemed to enjoy the sport he made; and it +was easy to see that even old Mrs. Lee, though she pretended to be +angry with the dog for his mischievousness, was in reality pleased with +the attentions he bestowed upon her and her knitting-work. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar's grandmother usually retired to her chamber, soon after dinner, +to take a short nap. One noon, after she had been scolding, with +assumed gravity, about the dog's mischievousness, Oscar thought he +would play a joke upon the old lady; so, on rising from the +dinner-table, he carried Tiger up to her bed-room, and shut him in. He +wanted to conceal himself somewhere, and witness the surprise of his +grandmother, when she should open the door, and the dog should spring +upon her; but it was time to go to school, and he could not wait. +</P> + +<P> +It so happened that Mrs. Lee did not take her nap so early as usual +that day. When she did go to her chamber, Tiger, impatient of his long +confinement, sprang out so quickly, that she did not observe him. But +such a scene as met her gaze on entering the chamber! The first thing +that caught her eye, was her best black bonnet lying upon the floor, +all crumpled up and torn into shreds, looking as though it had been +used for a football by a parcel of boys. She entered the room, and +found a dress upon the floor, with numerous marks of rough handling +upon it; while towels and other articles were scattered about in +confusion. The cloth upon the dressing-table had been pulled off, and +the articles that were kept upon it were lying upon the floor, +including a handsome vase, which, in the fall, had been shattered to +pieces. There was in the chamber a stuffed easy-chair, the covering of +which was of worsted-work, wrought by Mrs. Preston when she was a young +girl. This chair, which was highly valued as a relic of the past, was +also badly injured. A part of the needle-work, which had cost so many +hours of patient toil, was torn in every direction, and some of the +hair, with which the cushion was stuffed, was pulled out, and scattered +about the floor. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as Mrs. Lee had fully comprehended the extent of the mischief, +she went to the stair-way, and called her daughter. A glance satisfied +Mrs. Preston that Tiger must have been there; and she was confirmed in +this belief by Bridget, who remembered that the dog came down into the +kitchen, just after Mrs. Lee went up. But they could not tell how the +little rogue got shut into the room. They concluded, however, that +some of the children did it by accident, or that the dog slipped in +unperceived when Mrs. Lee came out from the chamber before dinner. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar did not go directly home from school, but as soon as he entered +the house, he learned what Tiger had done, from the other children. He +felt sorry that what he intended as a harmless joke, should end in so +serious a matter; but he determined that no one should know he had a +hand in it, if he could prevent it. He regretted the destruction of +property, but this feeling did not cause him so much uneasiness as his +fear of losing his dog in consequence of this bad afternoon's work. +His mother, as soon as she saw him, inquired if he had been to his +grandmother's chamber that noon. He replied that he had not. She +inquired if he let Tiger into it, and he answered in the negative. His +mother questioned him still further, but he denied all knowledge of the +matter. +</P> + +<P> +It was not very hard work for Oscar to tell a lie, now, for practice +makes easy. He could do it, too, in such a plausible and seemingly +innocent way, that it was difficult to believe he was deceiving you. +His falsehoods, in this instance, were readily believed; and as all the +other children denied having any knowledge of the affair, it was the +general conclusion that Tiger must have obtained admittance to the +chamber accidentally and unperceived. +</P> + +<P> +When Mr. Preston came home to tea, and saw what the dog had done, he +was very angry with poor Tiger, and told Oscar he must sell him or give +him away, for he would not have such a mischievous animal about the +house another day. A day or two after, Mrs. Preston replaced the +articles belonging to her mother that had been injured, and the +excitement about the dog soon died away. Oscar did not try to get rid +of his pet; but he was careful not to let him stay in the house much of +the time especially when his father was at home. +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar," said his grandmother a day or two after as he came into the +kitchen with Tiger, "I thought your father told you he would n't have +that dog around here any more." +</P> + +<P> +"O, he did n't mean so," replied Oscar; "he was mad when he said that, +but he 's got over it now. Besides, I don't let Tige stay in the house +much." +</P> + +<P> +"A good dale ye cares for what yer father says," remarked Bridget, who +was never backward about putting in a word, when Oscar's delinquencies +were the subject of conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"You shut up, Bridget,—nobody spoke to you," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Shet up, did ye say? Faith, if ye don't git shet up yerself where ye +won't git out in a hurry, afore ye 're many years older, it 'll be +because ye don't git yer desarts. Ye 're a bad b'y, that ye are, an'—" +</P> + +<P> +"There, there, Biddy," interrupted Mrs. Lee, "I would n't say anything +more—it only aggravates him, and does no good. But, Oscar," she +added, "I 'm sorry you don't pay more attention to what your father +says. It's a bad habit to get into. I knew a disobedient boy, once, +who came to the gallows; and I 've known several others who made very +bad men." +</P> + +<P> +"But you don't call me disobedient, do you, grandma'am?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know what else to call it," she replied, "if your father tells +you to do a thing, and you take no notice of it." +</P> + +<P> +"But father does n't want me to give Tige away—I don't believe he 's +thought of it again since that night." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, if I were you," replied his grandmother, "I would ask his +consent to keep the dog. If he did n't mean what he said, that night, +you will be safe enough in asking him." +</P> + +<P> +But this was a kind of reasoning that Oscar could not appreciate. If +he could carry his point just as well without his father's formal +consent, he thought it was useless to ask any such favor. As long as +he could keep his dog, it was all the same to him whether his father +withdrew his command, or silently acquiesced in his disobedience of it. +</P> + +<P> +But grandmother Lee's visit was drawing to a close, and early one +bright, cool morning, in the latter part of December, the coach called, +to take her to the railroad depôt; and after a few kisses, and words of +affectionate advice, and lingering good-byes, she departed on her +homeward journey. Of those she left behind, next to her own daughter, +the saddest of the group was little Ella, who, for many days, missed +the pleasant face of her good old grandmother. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WINTER SPORTS. +</H3> + + +<P> +It was now mid-winter, and a few inches of snow lay upon the frozen +ground, sufficient to make pretty fair sleighing for a few days, and to +afford good coasting for the boys on the hill-sides. The favorite +place for this amusement, among the boys in Oscar's neighborhood, was +the Common. Here they always found good, long, smooth coasting-places, +when there was any snow on the ground; and there was no danger of +tripping up foot passengers, or getting under the heels of the horses, +or being tapped on the shoulder by a policeman, which often happened to +boys who coasted down the steep streets of the city,—a practice, by +the way, prohibited by a city law. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar had a handsome new sled, which was a new year's present from his +father. It was long and narrow, the two steel-shod runners projecting +forward far beyond the top or seat, and ending in sharp points. It was +painted light blue, and varnished. Upon the sides, in gilt letters, +was its name—CLIPPER; and upon its top it bore the initial of Oscar's +name, with an ornamental device. It had what a sailor would call a +decidedly rakish look, and was really a fast as well as a stylish +"team," to use the term by which Oscar usually spoke of it. It even +eclipsed George's small but elegant sled, which, the winter previous, +had been regarded as the <I>ne plus ultra</I> of sled architecture. +</P> + +<P> +Ralph's sled, by the side of these, presented a very cheap and +antiquated appearance, and it was seldom that he took it with him to +the Common. He often borrowed Oscar's, however, when it was not in use +for his elder brother, with all his faults, was not selfish boy, but +was willing to lend his property to others, when he was not using it +himself. One pleasant Wednesday afternoon, a portion of the week +always devoted to recreation by the Boston school children, Ralph +obtained leave to take the "Clipper" with him to the Common. George +also went with him with his sled. The coasting is very good, and some +hundreds of boys are enjoying it. Long lines of sleds, freighted with +from one to three or four juveniles, are dashing down in various +directions from the Beacon Street mall; and an odd collection of +juveniles and sleds it is, too. There comes a chubby, red-faced lad, +with his exact counterpart, on a smaller scale, clinging on behind him +with one hand, and swinging his cap with the other. Their sled is +called the "Post-Boy," and it seems to "carry the males" very +expeditiously. Close at their heels is a pale, poetic youth, lightly +skimming over the inclined plane upon a delicate craft that looks like +himself, and which he calls the "Mystery." Here comes a rude, +unpainted sled, with two rough but merry youngsters lying prone upon +it, one over the other, and their heels working up and down in the air +in a most lively manner. Anon goes by an aristocratic-looking craft, +bearing upon it a sleek and well-dressed boy, whose appearance speaks +of wealth, indulgence, and ease. His sled is appropriately named the +"Pet;" but in gliding down the icy track it strikes a tree, and its +pampered owner is sent sprawling upon his back, in a very undignified +way, while his "Pet" gives him the slip and soon finds the bottom of +the hill. Poor fellow! we wonder if this is an omen of what is to +befall him in sliding down the hill of life. And here comes the +"Clipper" itself, with our Ralph seated proudly upon it, and apparently +enjoying the fleet and beautiful sled as much as though it were really +his own. And there, too, comes George, with his pretty "Snow Flake;" +and close behind him are the "Tempest," and the "Yankee Doodle," and +the "Screamer," and the "Snow ball," and the "Nelly," and the "Racer," +and a host of other craft, of every imaginable appearance, and strided +by all sorts of boys. +</P> + +<P> +Ralph and George spent an hour or two upon the Common. Nothing +occurred to mar their pleasure till just before they started for home, +when Ralph met with an adventure that sadly ruffled his temper. He was +descending the hill upon his sled, when another craft, having two boys +upon it larger than himself, managed to run into him. The "Clipper" +being lightly loaded, the other sled descended with greater impetus; +and the force of the collision, together with a vigorous kick from the +stout boots of one of the boys, overturned Ralph upon the steepest part +of the hill. He quickly picked himself up, and, forgetful of self, his +first care was to see whether Oscar's sled had sustained any damage. +When he beheld the marks of the rough encounter, in the form of sundry +ugly scratches upon the polished sides of the "Clipper," the tears came +in his eyes; and it was some time before he noticed that he himself +bore upon his hands and knees several unmistakable tokens of the +collision. +</P> + +<P> +Ralph knew very well that the collision was not accidental. The kick +of the boy who guided the sled, and the hearty laugh of both its +occupants, when Ralph was overturned, satisfied him that he had been +run down purposely. He did not know the names of the boys, having only +met them occasionally on the Common. They soon came along again, on +their way up the hill, and Ralph asked the owner of the sled why he run +him down. +</P> + +<P> +"Because you got in our way," replied the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I did n't," said Ralph; "there was room enough for you to go by, +but you steered out of your course, and gave my sled a kick, too." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you tell me I lie, you little snipper-snapper," answered the boy +"or I 'll put you in my pocket, and carry you off." +</P> + +<P> +"See what you did," continued Ralph, pointing to the scratches on the +"Clipper;" "I should n't care anything about it, but the sled is n't +mine. I borrowed it of my brother, and it had n't a scratch on it when +I took it." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh," said the other boy, "that does n't hurt it any. I 'll be bound +it will be scratched worse than that, before the winter 's over. If +you get in my way with it again, I shall serve it worse than I did this +time." +</P> + +<P> +The boys passed on their way, and Ralph and George, whose "fun" had +been thus suddenly and unjustly spoiled by their insolent and +domineering companions, concluded to return home. Poor Ralph dreaded +to meet Oscar; but yet he hunted him up, as soon as he got home, and +told him what had befallen the beautiful sled. Oscar was very angry +when he heard the story, but he generously acquitted his brother of all +blame in the matter, and declared that he would pay back the boy who +had thus taken advantage of his weakness. He knew the offender, from +Ralph's description, and from the name of his sled, which was the +"Corsair." He even proposed to go directly to the Common, and settle +the account at once; but Ralph, in whose heart revenge held a very +small place, persuaded him out of the notion. +</P> + +<P> +But Oscar, unlike Ralph, was not the boy to forget or forgive an +injury. A day or two after the occurrence just related, while coasting +on the Common, he fell in with the boy who run into his brother. +Keeping his eye upon him until he could catch him a little aside from +the other boys, when the favorable moment came, he suddenly dealt him a +severe blow, which nearly knocked him over, accompanying it with the +remark: +</P> + +<P> +"There, take that for running down my little brother, when he was +coasting with my sled, the other day." +</P> + +<P> +The other boy, without saying a word, sprang at Oscar, and, for a +moment or two, blows and kicks were freely exchanged. But though they +were about of a size, it was evident that Oscar was the stronger or +most resolute of the two, and his antagonist soon gave up the contest, +but not until he had been pretty roughly handled. Other boys soon came +flocking around, to whom Oscar explained the cause of the assault; but +his antagonist denied all knowledge of the affair for which Oscar had +attacked him. An angry war of words ensued, but the excitement finally +subsided without any further resort to blows, and Oscar returned home, +well pleased with his adventure. +</P> + +<P> +One of Oscar's favorite winter amusements was skating. Early in +winter, as soon as the little pond on the Common was frozen over, he +might be seen gliding over the smooth ice; but later in the season, +when there was good skating on "Back Bay," he preferred that locality, +because of its greater extent. Tiger usually accompanied him in his +skating excursions, and seemed to enjoy the sport as much as his master +did. It was amusing to see him try to make a short turn, in running +upon the ice. He would slide some distance before he could change his +course. Oscar would often plague him, when he was in full chase after +his master, by suddenly turning upon his skates, and taking a contrary +direction, leaving Tiger to get back as he could. +</P> + +<P> +But an event happened, one day, that almost wholly cured Tiger of his +fondness for this kind of sport. He was gaily tripping over the ice, +by the side of his young master, when the latter suddenly turned about, +and Tiger, in his haste to follow him, slid directly into an air-hole. +This was probably the first time he had enjoyed so extensive a cold +bath; and as he was not a water-dog, it is not surprising that he was +terribly frightened. His piteous cries brought Oscar to his relief, +who could not help laughing at the sorry plight in which he found his +half-drowned canine friend. He was floundering and paddling about in +the water, now lifting himself almost out, upon the edge of the ice, +and now slipping off again, and plumping over-head in the uncomfortable +element; his intelligent countenance, in the meantime, wearing the +impress of despair. But Oscar soon helped him from his disagreeable +position. Finding himself on his legs again, he did not resume his +sport; but, shivering with cold, and dripping with water, almost at the +freezing point, and with his head hanging downward, and his tail +drooping between his legs, he started towards home—a wiser and a +sadder dog. +</P> + +<P> +When Oscar got home, he found the family some what alarmed for his own +safety. Tiger had arrived some time before, and as it was evident that +he had been overboard, and as he was known to have gone off with his +master, Mrs. Preston felt some anxiety, not knowing but that both Oscar +and the dog had broken through the ice. But his arrival dispelled all +fears, and his account of Tiger's misfortune served to amuse the +children for the rest of the day. As for Tiger himself, he seemed +heartily ashamed of the part he had played, and could hardly be +persuaded to leave the chimney-corner for a moment, or even to look up, +when the children inquired for his health. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see what good air-holes do. I wonder if anybody knows what +they are for," exclaimed Ralph, as the children and their mother were +seated around the sitting-room table in the evening. +</P> + +<P> +"They are traps set to catch skaters, I suppose," said Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"And dogs," added Ella. +</P> + +<P> +"But don't you know what they are for, Alice?" continued Ralph. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Alice, who had studied natural philosophy at school, +"they are the breathing holes of the fishes. Fishes can't live without +air, any better than we can; and a pond or river frozen over solid, +without any air-holes, would be as bad for them as a room from which +all fresh air was shut out would be to us. You can sometimes catch +fish very easily by cutting a hole in the ice, for if they feel the +need of air, they will rush right up to the opening." +</P> + +<P> +"But how are the air-holes made?" inquired Ralph. +</P> + +<P> +"I believe," replied Alice, "that they are generally made by springs +that bubble up from the bottom. These springs come from the earth, and +the water is so warm that it gradually thaws the ice over them. The +fish often finish the process by jumping up through the ice before it +has entirely melted. When the cold is very intense, and these springs +have frozen up, some of the water is absorbed by the earth, which +leaves a vacuum or empty space between the ice and the water; and then +the ice gives way under the weight of the atmosphere, and air is +admitted into the water beneath." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I 'm glad air-holes are good for something," said Oscar; "they +'re troublesome enough to skaters. Jim Anderson skated right into one +the other day, and came pretty near getting drowned. But I always keep +my eyes open for them. I never got into one yet." +</P> + +<P> +"You cannot be too careful when you are on the ice," remarked Mrs. +Preston. "I felt so uneasy, that I was just going to send Ralph in +search of you, when you got home." +</P> + +<P> +After that day it required considerable coaxing to induce Tiger to go +upon the boys' skating-ground. He manifested a decided preference to +remain upon the shore, and look on; and when he did venture to +accompany his master, he kept close by his side, and travelled over the +treacherous ice with a degree of circumspection, which said very +plainly, "You won't catch me in that scrape again, master Oscar!" +</P> + +<P> +But there was nothing that the boys enjoyed more at this season of the +year, than a real good snowstorm. Such a storm they were favored with +during this month. It came on in the evening, and the next morning, +when they arose, their basement windows were more than half buried up +in snow, and the drifts, in some places, were higher than Oscar's head. +The streets were deserted and almost impassable. Thick crusts of snow +hung over the roofs of the long blocks of houses; while the blinds, +windows, doors and balustrades were heavily trimmed with the same +delicate material. The huge banks which stretched themselves along the +street and sidewalk, were as yet undisturbed; for the few passers-by +had been glad to pick their way through the valleys. The wind roared +and piped among the chimneys and house-tops, and whisked through narrow +passage-ways, and whistled through the smallest cracks and crevices, in +its merriest and busiest mood. Now it would scoop up a cloud of snow +from the street, and bear it up far above the house-tops, and then it +would repay the debt by gathering a fleecy wreath from some neighboring +roof, and sweeping it into the street beneath. The storm still +continued with unabated severity, and the air was so full of snow, that +one could hardly see the length of the street. +</P> + +<P> +After a hasty breakfast, the boys tucked the bottoms of their trowsers +into their boots, and sallied forth, to explore the half-buried +streets. And now the light snow-balls began to fly thick and fast, and +every few moments, one and another would measure his full length in +some deep drift, which for a moment almost buried him from sight. +Tiger, who accompanied them, entered fully into the sport, and very +good-naturedly received his share of the snowballs and snow-baths. But +their exercise was too violent to be continued a great while. They +soon returned home, coated with snow from head to heel, and the cheeks +of the boys glowing with health and enjoyment. +</P> + +<P> +"After you get rested, Oscar," said Mr. Preston, who was just leaving +for the store, "I want you to shovel a path in front of the house." +</P> + +<P> +"What is the use?" inquired Oscar. "The storm is n't over yet, and if +I make a path, it will fill right up again." +</P> + +<P> +"No it won't," replied his father. "I don't think it will storm much +longer; and the snow is so light, now, that you can shovel it easily, +but if you leave it till noon, it maybe trodden down hard. You need +not clean off the whole side-walk now; only make a comfortable +passage-way, and perhaps I will help you finish the job at night." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar still thought it would be a waste of labor to shovel a path then, +and he did not evince any haste in obeying his father's order. After +loitering about the house a long time, he took the shovel, and worked +lazily at the path for awhile. Although he only undertook to cut a +narrow passage-way through the drift in front of the house, he worked +with so little spirit, that when the time came for him to get ready for +school, he had not half completed the task. He asked permission to +stay at home and finish his path, but his mother did not think this +necessary, and refused her consent. So he went to school, and in the +meantime the storm died away, and the clouds dispersed. +</P> + +<P> +Towards noon the door-bell rang, and on Bridget going to answer it, a +little printed paper was handed to her, directing the occupant of the +house to have the snow removed from his sidewalk within a given number +of hours. After school, Oscar thought no more of his path, but went +off with Alfred Walton, and did not go home until dinner-time. He had +but little time now to shovel snow; but his father told him to be sure +and come home directly from school, in the afternoon, and not to play +or do anything else until the sidewalk was cleared off. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar accordingly went home after school, and resumed his work. He +found that the snow was trodden into such a solid icy mass, that an axe +was necessary to cut it up in some places. He was not the boy to hurt +himself with hard labor, and although he kept his shovel at work in a +leisurely way, he did not accomplish much, except the removal of a +little snow that had not got trodden down. Wearied at length with his +feeble and fruitless efforts, he returned into the house, saying to his +mother: +</P> + +<P> +"There, I can't get the snow off the sidewalk, and it's of no use to +try. It's trodden down just as hard as ice. Besides, if I should +shovel it all off, there will be an avalanche from the top of the house +to-night, that will bury the sidewalk all up again. The snow is +sliding off the roofs, all around here;—have n't you heard it, mother?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I thought I heard it," replied Mrs. Preston; "but if you can't +get the snow off the sidewalk, you had better speak to your father +about it, when he comes home, and perhaps he will help you, or hire +somebody to do it for you. It must be got off as soon as possible, for +the police have notified us to attend to it." +</P> + +<P> +In spite of this advice, Oscar neglected to speak to his father in +regard to the matter, and no one else happening to think of it, nothing +was said about it. The next morning, he chopped away upon the ice a +little while, but getting tired of it, he soon abandoned the job, and +went to play. When Mr. Preston came home to dinner, an unusual cloud +was on his brow; and as soon as Oscar came in, the cause was explained. +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar," he said, "why did you not shovel the snow from the sidewalk, +as I told you to, yesterday morning?" +</P> + +<P> +"I tried to," replied Oscar; "but it was trodden down so hard, I could +n't get it off." +</P> + +<P> +"But you should have done it before it got hardened. I told you to +clear a passage-way, yesterday morning. That would have saved the rest +from getting trod down, and at noon you could have finished the job. +Why did you not do as I told you to?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did begin to make a path," replied Oscar; "but I did n't have time +to finish it, and when I got home from school, the snow was all trodden +down hard." +</P> + +<P> +"Did n't have time?" said his father; "what do you tell me such a story +as that for? You could have made all the path that was necessary in +fifteen or twenty minutes, if you had been disposed to do it. By +neglecting to obey me, you have got me into a pretty scrape. I have +had to go before the Police Court, this forenoon, and pay a fine and +costs, amounting to over five dollars, for your negligence and +disobedience. And now," he added, "you may try once more, and see if +you can do as I tell you to. As soon at you have done dinner, take the +hatchet and shovel, and go to work upon the sidewalk; and don't you +leave it until the ice is all cleared off. As sure as you do, I will +dust your jacket for you when I come home to-night, so that you will +not forget it for one while." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar thought it best to obey his father this time. It being Saturday, +school did not keep, in the afternoon, and he had ample time to +complete the task, although it was time which he intended to spend in a +different way. Ralph, however, volunteered his assistance, and before +the middle of the afternoon, the task was finished. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +APPEARANCES. +</H3> + + +<P> +Those who impose upon the weak, sometimes get punished for their +meanness in an unexpected manner. This truth was very effectually +impressed upon Oscar, one March morning, as he was going to school. +The streets were in a very bad condition, being several inches deep +with a compound of snow, water, and mud, familiarly known as "slosh." +Just before reaching the school-house, he overtook two little boys with +a sled, and throwing himself upon it, he compelled them to drag him +along. It was hard sledding, and the boys naturally objected to +drawing such a heavy load; but Oscar kept his seat, and compelled them +to go on. For a few minutes, he rode along very quietly, although his +span of youngsters, who were continually muttering to themselves, did +not seem to enjoy the sport as well as he did. But, by a dexterous +movement, they soon balanced the debtor and creditor account. Giving +the sled a sudden jerk and lurch, in one of the sloppiest places they +had met with, their lazy passenger was thrown backward into the mud, +and imprinted a full length picture of himself in the yielding +material. The incident happened almost in front of the school-house, +and as Oscar rose from the mud, he was greeted by the shouts and +laughter of a hundred boys who witnessed the scene. Several men, also, +who were passing at the time, joined in the laughing chorus; and one, +who had observed the whole affair from the beginning, told Oscar the +boys had served him just right. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-141"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-141.jpg" ALT="The Overturn." BORDER="2" WIDTH="264" HEIGHT="323"> +<H4> +[Illustration: The Overturn.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Ralph came to the relief of his brother, and having wiped off as much +of the mud and water from his back as he could, with a handkerchief, +Oscar started for home, wet to his skin. He was keenly sensitive to +any mortification of this kind, and it was a bitter pill for him to +appear in the crowded streets in such a plight. He imagined everybody +he met or overtook was staring at him, and laughing at the figure he +cut, and he wanted to hide his face from their sight. He never went +home from school so fast before; but when he had changed his dress, and +washed the dirt from his hands and face, it was too late to return. In +the afternoon, when he made his appearance at school, he was quite +generally greeted with the significant nickname of "Stick-in-the-mud," +and had to stand a most remorseless fire of wit, pleasantry, and +ridicule the rest of the day, both at home and in the street. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar thought quite as much as was proper of outward appearances. He +was commendably neat in his personal habits, and was seldom caught with +dirty hands and face, or uncombed hair, or soiled and ragged dress. He +loved to dress well, too, and no amount of persuasion could induce him +to wear a garment, if he fancied it did not set right, or was much out +of fashion, or had an old and patched-up look. In such a case, nothing +but the stern arm of authority was sufficient to overcome his +prejudices. +</P> + +<P> +"There," said his mother one evening, after spending some time over one +of his jackets, which had become a little worn at the elbows; "there, +that will last you a spell longer, and look almost as well as it ever +did, too." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar examined the garment. It was neatly mended, and looked very +well; but his eye rested upon a slight patch upon one of the elbows, +which entirely spoilt it for him, although it had previously been a +favorite garment. +</P> + +<P> +"It's too small for me," he said; "why can't you keep it for Ralph?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, you needn't keep it for Ralph," quickly replied the owner of that +name; "I haven't had anything but your old clothes to wear for a year +or two, and I should think it was my turn to have some of the new ones, +now. Make him wear that out, mother, won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I intend he shall wear it awhile longer," replied Mrs. Preston. +"It looks well enough for any body." +</P> + +<P> +"But see that detestable patch," said Oscar; "I don't want to wear +<I>that</I> to school; folks will think I have borrowed one of Ben. Wright's +old jackets." +</P> + +<P> +Ben Wright was one of Oscar's schoolmates. He was the son of a poor +widow, and was the most be-patched boy in Oscar's class, at the head of +which he stood. As he had nothing to recommend him but fine +scholarship, exemplary deportment, and a good character, in school and +out, he was a boy of little consequence in the eyes of Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you were <I>worthy</I> to wear one of Benny's old jackets," replied +Mrs. Preston. "If you were half as good a boy as he is, I would not +complain. But you need not be afraid that anybody will mistake you for +him, even if you <I>do</I> wear a patched garment." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you think Ben. Wright is a little angel," said Oscar, who +never liked to hear his humble but diligent classmate praised. +</P> + +<P> +"I think he has some traits that you would do well to imitate," replied +his mother. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall think I am imitating him, when I get that thing on," added +Oscar, in a contemptuous manner, alluding to the jacket. +</P> + +<P> +"There, that will do, Oscar," replied Mrs. Preston, "You've said enough +about the jacket; don't let me hear another word of complaint. I took +a great deal of pains to mend it neatly, and it looks well enough for +you or any other boy. You may put it on to-morrow morning, and don't +you leave off wearing it till I tell you to." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar nodded his head in a way that seemed to say, "You 'll see how +long I wear it;" but his mother did not observe the motion. He had a +short and easy way of getting rid of garments that he disliked. +Somehow other they were sure to waste away in a much faster manner than +those he had a fancy for; or, perhaps they would be rendered suddenly +useless, by some mysterious accident. But he would never admit that +their period of usefulness had been purposely shortened, though +suspicions of this kind were occasionally hinted. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after this, Mr. Preston entered the room, and took a seat by the +fire He pulled out his watch to wind it up, as was his custom just +before bed-time, when Oscar said: +</P> + +<P> +"Father, I wish you would buy me a watch. Frank King, and Bill +Andrews, and Charlie Grant, and almost all the large boys that I know, +have got watches, and I should think I might have one too; why can't I, +father?" +</P> + +<P> +"What do they do with watches?" inquired Mr. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what does anybody do with them? They carry them to tell the time +of day, of course," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"And to make a display of watch-chain," added his father. +</P> + +<P> +"No, that isn't it," replied Oscar; "but it's convenient to have a +watch with you. You don't know how I 'm plagued to tell what time it +is, sometimes. It would make me a good deal more punctual, if I had +one. I was late to school this morning, but it was n't my fault, for I +did n't know what time it was until I got to the school-house, and +found that the boys had all gone in." +</P> + +<P> +"When I was of your age," said Mr. Preston, "boys never thought of +carrying watches, and yet they were taught to be as punctual as the +clock, in their attendance at school. If I had been tardy, and tried +to excuse myself by saying that I had no watch, I should have got +laughed at by the whole school. But where were you this morning, that +you did not know when it was school-time?" +</P> + +<P> +"Over to Alf. Walton's." +</P> + +<P> +"And couldn't find a time-piece about the premises?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why—no—I—forgot—" replied Oscar, somewhat embarrassed by the +question. +</P> + +<P> +"Just as I supposed," added his father; "you got along with that boy, +and forgot all about your school; and it would have been just the same, +if you 'd had half a dozen watches in your pocket." +</P> + +<P> +"O no, father," said Oscar; "for if I 'd had a watch about me, I should +have looked at it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," added Mr. Preston, "if you don't care enough about punctuality +to take a little trouble to ascertain what time it is, when you have an +engagement, I don't think a watch would help you any in acquiring the +habit. You have n't made out a very strong case." +</P> + +<P> +"No," remarked Mrs. Preston, "he wants a watch for show, and not +punctuality,—that's plain enough. He has just been making a great +fuss because I put a little bit of a patch on the elbow of his jacket. +He is getting to be quite fastidious, for a gentleman of his size." +</P> + +<P> +"If you would think a little less of outside appearances, Oscar," +continued his father, "and a little more of inward character, your +judgment of men and things would not be quite so much at fault as it is +now. If you judge of boys or men by the cloth and watches they wear, +and select your companions accordingly, you will soon find that you +have got a pretty set of friends. And so, too, if you think you can +secure the good opinion and respect of the world, merely by dressing +well, you are greatly mistaken. You must learn to judge people by +their characters, and not by their dress or appearance. If I could see +you trying to form a good character, I should care very little what +sort of garments you wore. I would buy you a watch, or anything else +in my power, if it would only make you behave better. In fact, I will +make you a handsome offer now, if you wish." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what is it?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"I will agree to give you a nice watch, in six months from this time, +if you will do three things," continued his father. +</P> + +<P> +"What are they?" inquired Oscar; "are they things that I can do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly," said Mr. Preston; "you can do them if you will only try. +The first is, that you render prompt obedience to your parents, during +these six months. Is n't that within your power?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar, somewhat reluctantly. +</P> + +<P> +"The second is," continued Mr. Preston, "that you behave toward your +playmates and all other people in such a way, that no serious complaint +shall be made against you. Can you do that, if you try?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, I guess so," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"And the last condition is, that you give sufficient attention to your +studies to gain admission to the High School, at the end of the term. +Is that in your power?" +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose it is," said Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"You admit, then, that you <I>can</I> keep these conditions," continued his +father; "the question now is, <I>will</I> you do it?" +</P> + +<P> +That was a hard question for Oscar to answer. He hesitated, and +twisted about in his chair, and at length replied: +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I don't suppose I should make out, if I tried." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you certainly would not, if that is your spirit," replied his +father. "You cannot accomplish anything unless you have some +confidence that you can do it, and firmly resolve to try. You just +admitted that you could keep these conditions, but it seems you are not +willing to make the attempt. You want a watch, but you don't intend to +obey your parents, or to conduct yourself properly, or to attend to +your lessons, for the sake of getting it—that's what you mean to say, +is it not?" +</P> + +<P> +Oscar remained silent. +</P> + +<P> +"I am sorry," continued his father, "that you will not take up with my +offer; for though I do not think it important that you should get the +watch, it is important that you should reform some of your habits. You +are getting to be altogether too wayward and headstrong, as well as +vain." +</P> + +<P> +"If I get into the High School next summer, may I have the watch?" +inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied his father, "not unless you comply with the other +conditions. But I want you to remember what I told you the other day, +that if you don't get into the High School at that time, I shall send +you to some boarding-school away from home, where you will be made to +study, and to behave yourself too. If strict discipline can do +anything for you, you shall have the benefit of it, you may depend upon +that." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar was now two-thirds of the way through his last year in the school +he attended. His parents were anxious that he should go through the +High School course of studies, and, indeed, he had applied for +admission to that school the summer previous to this, but did not pass +the examination. There was still some doubt whether he would succeed +any better at the next examination; and in case of his failure, his +parents had decided to send him to a boarding-school in the country. +But there was nothing very alarming to him in the idea of going into +such an establishment, notwithstanding all his father said of the +strict discipline to which he would be subjected. There would be a +novelty about it, he imagined, that would make it quite pleasant. +Consequently, he cared very little whether he was accepted as a High +School pupil or not. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE MORAL LESSON. +</H3> + + +<P> +Oscar had the name among his fellows of being a shrewd and sharp boy at +a bargain; and, like too many men who have acquired a similar +reputation, he was not over-scrupulous in his manner of conducting his +business operations. If he could drive a profitable trade, it mattered +little <I>how</I> he did it; and if somebody else lost as much as he gained +by the bargain, that was not his business; every one must look out for +himself. So he reasoned, and so constantly did he act on this +principle, that, to tell the truth, his integrity was by no means +unimpeachable among his comrades. It was a very general opinion, that +in many of their boyish games, such as marbles, he would cheat if he +could get a chance; and the notion was equally prevalent, that in a +bargain, he was pretty sure to get decidedly the best end. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar was very desirous that his dog Tiger should wear a brass collar, +by way of ornament and distinction. All other respectable dogs bore +upon their necks this badge of ownership, and he thought it highly +important that Tiger should be on a good footing with his canine +friends. But how to get the collar, was the question that perplexed +him. He had asked his father to buy it, and met with a flat refusal. +He had even called at several shops, and inquired the price of the +coveted article, but it was hopelessly beyond his means. The subject +lay heavily upon his mind for several days, for when he took a notion +that he wanted a thing, it was hard to reason or drive him out of it. +His thoughts and his dreams were of brass dog-collars, and his talk +among his companions run upon the same theme. At length, while +prosecuting his inquiries, he happened to learn that a little boy who +attended his school, owned just such a collar as he wanted, and had no +dog to wear it. Here was a chance for a speculation. Oscar lost no +time in seeing this boy, and in getting his lowest price for the +collar, which was fifty cents. This was much less than the price at +the shops, and Oscar thought his father might be induced, by this fact, +to let him have the money to purchase it; but Mr. Preston did not think +Tiger needed any such appendage, and Oscar's request was again denied. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar now set his wits to work to devise a way of buying the collar, +without his father's aid. He looked over the little collection of +"goods and chattels," which he called his own, to see what there was he +could exchange for the article he wanted. His eye soon fell upon a +brass finger ring, and his plan was quickly formed. The ring had been +tumbled about among his playthings for a year or two, and was now dull +and dingy; but he remembered that he once cleaned and polished it, so +that it looked very much like gold, so long as the lustre lasted. He +subjected it to this process again, and it soon looked as well as the +plain gold ring he wore upon his finger, which it somewhat resembled in +size and color. Substituting it for the gold ring, he wore it to +school that afternoon; and a little negotiation, after school was +dismissed, settled the business—the coveted dog-collar was his! +Indeed, so craftily did he conduct the bargain, that he made the other +boy throw in a pretty ivory pocket-comb to boot! The little boy who +was thus cruelly deceived, supposed he was buying the ring that Oscar +usually wore; and, in truth, Oscar did give him to understand, in the +course of the barter, that it was fine gold, a point on which the other +boy did not appear to have much doubt. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar did not dare to tell any one what a good bargain he had made, for +fear that the other boy would hear of it. Tiger appeared with a +handsome collar around his neck the next morning; and all the +explanation any one could get from his young master was, that he +"traded for it." +</P> + +<P> +A week or two elapsed before Oscar's victim discovered the imposition +that had been practiced upon him. The ring, which had been proudly +worn, at length began to look dim and brassy; and on being submitted to +careful inspection, it was pronounced by competent authority to be not +worth one cent. The owner was of course indignant, and he went at once +to Oscar, and demanded a return of the collar and comb. But Oscar +laughed at the proposal. +</P> + +<P> +"A bargain is a bargain," said he, "and there can't be any backing out, +after it's all settled. You agreed to the trade, and now you must +stick to it." +</P> + +<P> +"But it was n't a fair bargain," said the other boy; "you told me the +ring was gold, and it is nothing but brass." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I did n't tell you it was gold," replied Oscar. "You imagined +that. And I did n't tell you it was the one I wore either,—you +imagined that too. It was my other ring that I said was gold, and I +told you it cost two dollars, and so it did. I never told you this +ring was gold,—I recollect perfectly about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you know I supposed it was gold, or I would n't have traded for +it," replied the boy; "and besides, you made me think it was gold, +whether you really said it was or not." +</P> + +<P> +"That was your look-out," said Oscar. "When a man sells a thing, he is +n't obliged to run it down. You must look out for yourself when you +make a bargain—that's what I do." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think you did," replied the other; "and I guess I shall +remember your advice, if I ever trade with you again. There's your old +ring: now give me back my collar and comb," he continued, handing the +ring to Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"I shan't do any such thing," said Oscar, and he refused to take the +ring, and turned upon his heel, leaving the other boy in no very +pleasant state of mind. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you 're a great cheat and a swindler," cried the victim, +gathering courage as Oscar retreated. +</P> + +<P> +"And you 're a little greeny," replied Oscar, with a loud laugh. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar had prepared his mind for this explosion of indignation, and +though he did not care much about it, he was glad it was over with. He +regarded the transaction which led to it as a shrewd business +operation, to be chuckled over, rather than repented of; and he had no +idea of spoiling it all, by undoing the bargain. +</P> + +<P> +In Oscar's school, it was customary for the first class (of which he +was a member) to devote the first half hour of every Monday morning to +a lesson in morals. In these lessons, the duties which we owe to God, +to ourselves, and to one another, were explained and enforced. +Although a text-book was used, the teacher did not confine himself to +it, in the recitations, but mingled oral instruction with that +contained in the printed lessons, often taking up incidents that +occurred in school, to illustrate the principle he wished to establish. +</P> + +<P> +It so happened that on the Monday morning after the occurrence just +related, the subject of the moral lesson was dishonesty. The various +forms of dishonesty,—theft, robbery, fraud, &c.,—were explained, and +the distinction between them pointed out. The teacher then proceeded +as follows: +</P> + +<P> +"A gentleman was riding in the cars, one evening, when a newsboy passed +through the train, and he purchased a paper, giving the boy by mistake +a gold eagle instead of a cent. The boy noticed the mistake, but said +nothing about it. Albert, you may tell me what you think of that boy's +conduct." +</P> + +<P> +"It was dishonest," replied Albert; "because he knew that the money did +not belong to him, and yet he kept it." +</P> + +<P> +"But did not a part of the blame belong to the man who made the +mistake?" inquired the teacher. +</P> + +<P> +Albert, after thinking a moment, replied: +</P> + +<P> +"He was to blame for his carelessness, but not for the boy's +dishonesty." +</P> + +<P> +"You are right," said the teacher. "The boy was guilty of stealing, +just as much as if he had picked the man's pocket, or broken into his +house. But suppose, instead of the mistake being to the amount of ten +dollars, it had only been a few cents,—how then?" +</P> + +<P> +"It would have been just the same," replied the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"But what if the man was very rich, and would never feel the loss, +while the boy was poor, and needed the money?" +</P> + +<P> +"That would have made no difference," replied Albert. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good," continued the teacher; "when an honest man discovers a +mistake in his own favor, he always hastens to rectify it. He will +receive only what he is entitled to. Robert," he added, addressing an +other pupil, "how is it with regard to lost articles?" +</P> + +<P> +"When we find anything that has been lost," replied the boy addressed, +"we should try to ascertain the owner, and return the article to him." +</P> + +<P> +"Is there any guilt in neglecting to do this?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, it is a kind of dishonesty." +</P> + +<P> +"You are right," added the teacher; "the courts often punish men for +this very offence, for it is a species of theft. And how of borrowing +articles, and neglecting to return them,—is that honest?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is not," replied Robert. +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar," continued the teacher, "you may give your opinion of this +case: suppose one of your acquaintances wants a certain article +belonging to you, and by way of barter, offers you a finger-ring for +it. You take it for granted that the ring is gold, but a week or two +after the bargain is concluded, you discover that it is of brass, and +of no value what ever. The other boy knew all the while it was brass, +and also knew you supposed it was gold. What should you say of such a +transaction? Was it honest?" +</P> + +<P> +Oscar turned red, and looked confused, as this question was put to him. +It was a minute or two before he made any reply, and then he said, in a +hesitating manner: +</P> + +<P> +"If the other boy did n't <I>tell</I> me it was gold, I don't see as he was +to blame." +</P> + +<P> +"But we will suppose there was no need of his telling you so," added +the master; "we will suppose he managed the bargain so adroitly, that +you never suspected he was not dealing fairly with you. In that case, +should you think he had acted honestly towards you?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," replied Oscar, but it came out with the utmost reluctance. +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly not," said the teacher; "it is dishonest to take advantage +of another's ignorance, or simplicity, or necessity, in a bargain. +Overreaching in trade is often dignified with the name of shrewdness, +but, for all that, it is contrary to the rule of honesty. And now I +have one more question to ask you: After you have discovered how your +comrade has imposed upon you, what should you expect of him?" +</P> + +<P> +Oscar made no reply. +</P> + +<P> +"Should you not expect him to make full restitution?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," he replied, in a scarcely audible voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course you would," continued the master; "and if he refused, he +would deserve double punishment." +</P> + +<P> +Several other forms of dishonesty were then considered, such as the +following;—withholding from another his just dues; contracting debts +which we know we cannot pay, or making promises we know we cannot +fulfil; wasting or injuring the property of others, &c. In concluding, +the teacher remarked, that it was not very pleasant to feel that we had +been wronged and cheated; but there was another feeling, a +thousand-fold more to be dreaded—the feeling that we have wronged and +cheated others. And so ended the moral lesson for that morning. +</P> + +<P> +The particular bearing of this lesson upon Oscar, and the pertinency of +the "case" he was called to decide upon, were not generally known to +the class, though their suspicions might have been somewhat excited by +his confusion, and his reluctance to answer the questions put to him. +The teacher had been informed of Oscar's dishonest bargain by the boy +who suffered from it, and he chose this way to impress upon him the +immorality of the transaction. He concluded, however, to give him an +opportunity to make a voluntary restitution, and so no further +reference was made to the matter. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar was wise enough to heed the warning. Before night, the brass +dog-collar and the ivory pocket-comb were returned to their rightful +owner. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SICKNESS. +</H3> + + +<P> +"You have got a bad cold, Oscar," said Mrs. Preston one evening towards +the close of winter, as Oscar came in from his play, and was seized +with a coughing spell. "And no wonder," she added, on glancing at his +feet; "why, do you see how wet the bottoms of your pantaloons are? I +should like to know where you have been, to get so wet—it is strange +that you will not keep out of the water." +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to know how anybody could help getting wet feet this +weather, with the slosh up to your knees," said Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"I could walk about the streets all day without going over my shoes," +replied his mother, "and so could you, if you tried to. I believe you +go through all the mud-puddles you can find, just to see how wet you +can get. But it won't do for you to sit down in this condition. Take +off your wet boots, and run up stairs and put on a pair of dry +pantaloons and some dry stockings, and then you may sit down to the +fire and warm yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't want to change my pantaloons and stockings," said Oscar; "I +'ll take off my boots and dry myself—that will do just as well." +</P> + +<P> +"No it won't," replied his mother; "you had better change your clothes, +for you've got a real bad cold now, and I don't want you to get any +more. Come, do you hear me? Run up to your chamber and put on some +dry clothes." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar paid no attention to the command, but after removing his wet +boots, sat down before the range to dry his feet and legs. Such +instances of disobedience were too common in the family to attract any +special notice, and Mrs. Preston said nothing more about the matter. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar, that afternoon, had been down to the shores of Charles River, +near Cambridge Bridge, with Alfred Walton and several other boys. They +had been amusing themselves upon the ice that had formed along the edge +of the river, and which was now breaking up. They loosened some of the +large cakes, and set them floating off upon the current towards the +ocean. It was in this way that Oscar got his feet so wet. +</P> + +<P> +The next afternoon, when school was dismissed, Oscar, forgetting his +wet feet and his cold, went again to the same place, with several of +his cronies. Tiger also accompanied the party, for his master seldom +went anywhere without him, except to school. The boys amused +themselves, as on the previous day, with shoving off large blocks of +ice into the stream, and with running rapidly over floating pieces that +were not large enough to bear them up. Sometimes they narrowly escaped +a ducking, so venturesome were they; and all of them got their feet +pretty thoroughly soaked. +</P> + +<P> +It happened, after awhile, that a cake of ice upon which the boys were +all standing, got disengaged from the shore, unperceived by them, and +commenced floating into the river. They were all at work upon another +ice-block, trying to push it off, and did not notice that they were +going off themselves, until they were several feet from the shore. The +distance was too great to leap, and the water was so deep that none of +them dared to jump off from their precarious footing. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, this is a pretty joke," said one of the boys, with some +appearance of alarm. "I should like to know how we are going to get +out of this scrape?" +</P> + +<P> +"Get out of it?—who wants to get out of it?" replied Oscar. "I don't, +for one—we shall have a first-rate sail down into the harbor; shan't +we, Alf?" +</P> + +<P> +"The tide will take us right under the bridge, and I 'm going to climb +up one of the piers," said Alfred, who appeared to be thinking more of +a way of escape than of the pleasures of the trip. +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh, I shan't get off there," said Oscar. "I 'm in for a sail, and +if the rest of you back out, I shan't. You 'll go too, won't you, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +Before Tom could answer, they all began to notice that their ice-cake +gave signs that the burden upon it was greater than it could safely +bear. The swift current began to whirl it about in a rather +uncomfortable manner, and it was gradually settling under water. They +all began to be very much alarmed—all but Tiger, who did not quite +comprehend the situation of affairs, and who looked up into the boys' +faces with an expression of curiosity, as though he wanted to say: +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what mischief these little rogues are up to now?" +</P> + +<P> +Several people who were crossing the bridge now noticed the perilous +situation of the boys, and stopped to look at them. As soon as Alfred +noticed them, he cried out slowly, at the top of his voice: +</P> + +<P> +"Halloo, there! send us a boat, will you? we 're sinking!" +</P> + +<A NAME="img-168"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-168.jpg" ALT="Afloat on the Ice." BORDER="2" WIDTH="264" HEIGHT="285"> +<H4> +[Illustration: Afloat on the Ice.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +There was some doubt whether the people on the bridge understood the +cry, and the other boys repeated it as loud as they could, in the +meantime also trying to manifest their want by signs and gestures. +Some of the spectators upon the bridge, who were now quite numerous, +shouted back in reply; but the boys, being to their windward, could not +understand what they said. Their frail support was now moving rapidly +along, and whirling about in the eddies more alarmingly than ever. It +had sunk so low that they were all standing in the water, and they +expected it would shortly break to pieces and precipitate them all into +the river. There were four of them upon the cake, besides the dog. +The two youngest boys began to cry with fright; but Oscar and Alfred, +though they were as much alarmed as the others, did not manifest it in +this way, but were looking anxiously towards the bridge and the shore +for relief. +</P> + +<P> +The boys were not long kept in this dreadful state of suspense; for +pretty soon they discovered a boat putting out towards them from the +end of the bridge. There were two men in it, each of whom was plying +an oar. They called out to the boys not to be frightened, and in a few +minutes they were alongside the fugitive ice-cake, whose living freight +was safely transferred to the boat. The boatmen then pulled for the +wharf from which they came, and the rescued party had the pleasure of +standing once more upon firm ground. They were so overjoyed at their +escape that they forgot to thank the men who had taken so much trouble +to rescue them. They were not ungrateful however; though it would have +been better if their words as well as their looks had expressed the +sentiment they felt. As soon as they reached the wharf, the men +advised them to run home and dry themselves, which they proceeded to do. +</P> + +<P> +When Oscar reached home, he was so hoarse, from hallooing, that he +could not speak aloud. When his mother heard of his exposure, and saw +how wet he was, she was much concerned for him. She wished him to +change his damp clothing, but he did not think it necessary, and +instead of complying with her desire, he sat down to the fire and dried +himself. He had but little appetite for supper; and a headache coming +on in the evening, he retired to bed early. Before dong so, however, +he took a dose of medicine which his mother had prepared, to "throw +off" his cold. +</P> + +<P> +After a feverish and restless night—in which, in his troubled dreams, +Oscar had floated to sea upon a small piece of ice, and, after a long +agony, foundered alone in fathomless waters—he awoke in the morning +feeling very strangely. Every few moments a cold chill ran through his +body, that made him shiver until the bed trembled beneath him. His +head ached badly, and there was also a pain in his back. He tried to +raise himself up, but his arms had lost their strength, and he was +barely able to support himself a moment upon his elbow. By-and-bye his +brothers, who slept in the same room in another bed, got up, and Oscar +informed them that he was too weak to get off the bed. They soon +called in their father and mother, who, after looking at the sick boy, +concluded to send for a physician. +</P> + +<P> +After breakfast, Ralph was despatched for the doctor, who soon arrived, +and was conducted into Oscar's chamber. Seating himself upon the +bedside, he took the sick boy's wrist into his hand, and began to talk +with him very pleasantly, asking him various questions about his +feelings, the manner in which he took cold, &c. Having ascertained all +the facts and symptoms of the case, he told the family he thought Oscar +was suffering from an attack of lung fever, and he then gave directions +as to the manner in which the disease should be treated. He also wrote +a recipe for some medicine, to be procured at the apothecary's. The +terms used in it were Latin, and very much abbreviated, besides, so +that they were unintelligible to Mrs. Preston; for this is a custom +among physicians, that has come down from ancient times. Seeing Mrs. +Preston was in some doubt about the prescription, he explained to her +what the articles were that composed it, and the effect they would have +upon the patient. +</P> + +<P> +After the doctor had gone, it was decided to remove Oscar into another +chamber, in a lower story, where he would be more comfortable, and +where, also, it would be more convenient to wait upon him. Wrapping +him up warmly in the bed-clothes, his father took him in his arms, and +carried him to the room he was to occupy for the present. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of his medicine, Oscar continued to grow worse, through the +day. He longed for night to come, that he might go to sleep; but when +it came, it did not bring with it the refreshing slumber of health. +Short naps and troubled dreams alternated with long, weary hours of +wakefulness; and the sun, at its next rising, found him sicker than +before. The pains in his head and chest were more severe; his skin was +hot and dry; his cheeks were flushed with fever; he breathed with +difficulty, and his cough had become quite distressing. He felt cross +and fretful, too, and nothing that was done for him seemed to give him +satisfaction. He was unwilling that any one should attend upon him, +except his mother, and refused to receive his food or medicine from any +hand but hers. If she happened to be absent from his room more than a +few moments, when he was awake, he would insist upon her being called +back. +</P> + +<P> +But though Oscar would not allow his mother to leave him, she did not +suit him much better than the other members of the family. It was with +considerable difficulty that she could coax him to take the medicines +the doctor had ordered. Then she was obliged to deny him all forms of +nourishment, except a little gum-arabic water,—an arrangement at which +he complained a good deal. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar's fever continued to run for more than a week, the violence of +the disease increasing from day to day. Then a favorable change took +place, and the doctor told him the fever had turned, and he was getting +better. For a day or two before this, however, he was very ill; so +ill, indeed, that he submitted to whatever the doctor ordered, without +a word of complaint. He felt that there was danger, and he dare not +stand in the way of the means used for his recovery. To this, perhaps, +he owed the favorable turn the disease had taken; for had he refused to +take his medicines, as he did at the commencement of his sickness, or +even had he only engaged in a fruitless but exhausting contest with his +mother, the scale might have turned the other way, and the fever ended +in death. +</P> + +<P> +Getting better! That was the best news Oscar had heard for many a day. +He almost wanted to kiss the lips that spoke those encouraging words. +He always liked Dr. Liscom, but never so well as at that moment. It +was good news to all the household, too, and flew quickly from one to +another. In fact, the children grew so jubilant over it, that their +mother had to remind them that Oscar was yet too sick to bear any noise +in the house. +</P> + +<P> +"O dear," said George, "I 've got tired of keeping so still. How long +will it be before we can make a real good noise, mother?" +</P> + +<P> +"And how long before I can sing, and practice my music-lessons, +mother?" inquired Ella. +</P> + +<P> +"And how long before Oscar can go out and play?" inquired Ralph, more +thoughtful for his sick brother than for himself. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't tell," replied their mother; "you must all keep still a few +days longer, for Oscar is very weak now, and the noise disturbs him. +The doctor thinks it will take several weeks for him to get fully well, +but he will soon be able to sit up, I hope." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning, Oscar felt decidedly better, and so he continued to +improve day by day. But his old impatience soon began to return. He +grumbled every time the hour returned to take his drops, and he fairly +rebelled against the food that was prepared for him—a little weak +gruel, when his appetite was clamoring for a hearty meal of beef and +potatoes! During his sickness, many little delicacies had been sent in +to him by friends and neighbors, and from most of these too he was +still debarred by the inexorable doctor. He teased his mother to let +him have things the doctor had forbidden, and was offended with her +when she refused. He thus made a great deal of unnecessary trouble and +suffering for his mother, who had served him so devotedly through this +sickness that her own health was giving way. +</P> + +<P> +A day or two after his fever turned, Oscar wished to sit up in a chair, +and begged very hard to be allowed to get up from the bed. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Oscar," said his mother, "you could not sit up two minutes, if I +should put you in a chair. You have no idea how weak you are." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I aint weak," replied Oscar; "I bet you I can walk across the room +just as well as you can—you don't know how strong I 've grown within a +day or two. Come, mother, do let me get up, will you?" +</P> + +<P> +"You are crazy to talk so, my son," answered Mrs. Preston. "If you +should try to stand up, you would faint away as dead as a log. It will +be a week before you are strong enough to walk about." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you mean to keep me sick as long as you can," was Oscar's +unfeeling reply. "I am tired almost to death of laying a-bed," he +added, and the tears began to gather in his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +His mother felt hurt by these words, but she attributed them to the +weakening and irritating influence of disease, and forgave them as +quickly as they were uttered. She even yielded to his wishes so far as +to offer to let him sit up in bed a little while. He gladly acceded to +the proposal, and putting his arms around her neck, she slowly raised +him up; but he had no sooner reached an upright position than his head +began to "fly round like a top," and he was very glad to be let down +again to his pillow. This little experiment satisfied him for the day. +</P> + +<P> +It was a fine April morning when Oscar was first taken up from his sick +bed, and placed in an easy chair, well lined with blankets and +comforters. This was a memorable event in his life, the first time he +sat up after nearly three weeks' confinement to his bed. He was +dragged to the front window, from which he could see the people upon +the street below. How familiar, and yet how strange, everything and +everybody looked to his sick eyes! And then, to have his toast and +drink set before him upon a corner of the table, where he could help +himself, and eat and drink with some comfort,—was n't that "grand," to +use his own expressive term! +</P> + +<P> +Oscar's recovery was now pretty rapid, but his mother had to watch him +very sharply, to prevent him from running into excesses, to which his +impatience continually prompted him. It was hard to make him realize +that there was yet some danger of a relapse, and that prudence would be +necessary for several weeks to come. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +GETTING WELL. +</H3> + + +<P> +Oscar had reason to remember the first time he went down stairs, after +his fit of sickness. It was in the night-time. He awoke, feeling +quite hungry; for he was yet kept on a spare diet, which was far from +satisfying the cravings of his appetite. He was alone in his room, and +all the rest of the family were asleep. A lamp was burning dimly in +the fire-place of his chamber, and the door that led into his mother's +room was open, that she might be ready, at the least sound of alarm. +After thinking the matter over a few minutes, and satisfying himself +that no one in the house was awake, he determined to go down stairs in +quest of something to eat. +</P> + +<P> +"What is the use of starving a fellow to death, because he has been +sick!" he said to himself. "I might as well die one way as another; +and if there 's anything to eat in the house, I'm bound to have it. I +'ve lived on slops and toasted bread three weeks, and I can't stand it +any longer." +</P> + +<P> +He accordingly got up, and taking the lamp, stole very cautiously into +the entry, and down stairs, having nothing but his night-clothes upon +him. The snapping of the stairs, under his tread, was the only noise +that was heard, and this did not awake any of the household. He +proceeded at once to the kitchen closet, and commenced helping himself +with a free hand to its contents. He began upon a dish of corned beef +and vegetables, from which he partook quite liberally. He then hastily +swallowed a piece of mince-pie, and a slice or two of cake, when, the +night air beginning to feel chilly, he hurried back to bed. This last +operation was by no means so easy as he had imagined it would be. His +knees were very weak and "shaky," and it seemed as though they could +not support him, when he undertook to go up stairs. He was alarmed, +and would have given up the attempt, and called for help, but for the +dread of being caught in such a flagrant act of disobedience. So he +persisted in his efforts, and finally reached his chamber, quite +exhausted. +</P> + +<P> +After a heavy and troubled sleep, Oscar awoke in the morning, feeling +quite wretchedly. As soon as his mother entered the room, her quick +eye detected the unfavorable change; but he did not seem inclined to +complain much of his feelings, and appeared averse to conversing about +them. She ascertained, however, after awhile, that Oscar was more +feverish than he had been, that he had a severe pain in his chest, and +that his cough was worse. Many were the surmises thrown out, by his +father and mother, as to the probable cause of this change in his +symptoms; but as for himself, he seemed entirely at a loss to account +for the mystery, and left them to form their own conjectures. +</P> + +<P> +The doctor, who now visited Oscar only two or three times a week, was +sent for after breakfast. When he arrived, he questioned Mrs. Preston +very closely as to the manner in which the patient had been treated, +and he also addressed many inquiries to Oscar; but he learned nothing +from either that could account for the renewed attack of fever. He sat +a few moments, in a thoughtful mood, seemingly at a loss what to say, +when Oscar, who had complained much of nausea for the last half hour, +began to show symptoms of vomiting. A basin was brought, and the +contents of his stomach were quickly discharged into it. +</P> + +<P> +The mystery was now explained. Mrs. Preston looked on in silent +astonishment, while the doctor could hardly repress his anger at this +exhibition of the contents of his patient's stomach. There were great +pieces of unmasticated meat and potato, mixed up with a porridge of +half-dissolved pie and cake, the whole forming a medley of hearty and +indigestible substances, that would have taxed the strong stomach of a +healthy man. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said the doctor, turning to Mrs. Preston, when Oscar got +through, "what does all this mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know not; you must ask him," replied Mrs. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +The same question, put to Oscar, brought from him a reluctant +confession of the last night's folly. When he had concluded, the +doctor arose, and taking his hand, said: +</P> + +<P> +"I will bid you good-bye. It's of no use for me to attend upon you any +longer, if you abuse my confidence in this way. If you want to kill +yourself I won't stand in your way. Good morning." +</P> + +<P> +Before Oscar recovered from his astonishment, the doctor had reached +the entry. Addressing his mother who was following him, he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Call him back, mother—tell him I won't do so again—call him back." +</P> + +<P> +The doctor heard the message, and returned. +</P> + +<P> +"I will consent to prescribe for you only on one condition," he said; +"and that is, that you will agree to do precisely as I tell you to. +You must take the medicines I order, and eat only what I tell you to, +or I will have nothing more to do with you. Do you agree to that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +The doctor resumed his seat, and felt the patient's pulse. He had not +yet got entirely over his irritation, and, turning to Mrs. Preston, he +remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"If the patient was a little stronger, my first prescription would be a +smart external application of birch or ratan; but, as it is, we shall +have to omit that for the present. You need not think you will escape +punishment, however," he continued, turning to Oscar. "This scrape of +yours will put you back more than one week and if you are not careful +you may never get your health again. You may trifle with the doctor, +but you can't trifle with the lung fever." +</P> + +<P> +The doctor then gave directions as to Oscar's diet and medicine, and +departed, but not until he had again warned him against leaving the +room without his mother's consent, or eating any articles forbidden by +her. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar found no opportunity after this to evade the commands of the +doctor, had he been so disposed, for some one was always with him by +day and night. Still, his recovery seemed to have been checked very +much by his relapse, and the doctor's skill was taxed pretty severely +to bring the fever to a favorable termination. As it was, his attempt +was not fully successful; for the fever, in spite of all he could do, +left behind it a cough, and a weakness of the lungs, which gave Oscar's +parents no little alarm at times. +</P> + +<P> +For a fortnight after his midnight supper, Oscar allowed his mother and +the doctor to do just as they pleased with him. He yielded to their +wishes, and their orders were law to him. At the end of that time the +doctor discontinued his regular visits. Oscar was now able to go +out-doors a little in very pleasant weather; but his cough rendered +prudence still very necessary. His confinement, however, was daily +growing more irksome, and sometimes he disregarded the positive +commands of his parents by going out when the weather was unsuitable. +</P> + +<P> +One morning, a menagerie, or collection of wild beasts, was to enter +the city in grand procession. There were to be several elephants and +camels on foot, besides hundreds of other animals (invisible) in +carriages. There was also to be a mammoth gilt chariot, filled with +musicians, and drawn by ever so many horses. The procession was to +pass very near the street where Oscar lived, and he intended to go and +see it; but when the morning came, there was a cold, drizzling rain, +with an uncomfortable east wind, and his mother told him he must not +think of going out. He did think of it, however, and not only thought +of it, but went. While his mother was up stairs, he quietly slipped +out, and went to the corner the procession was expected to pass. There +he waited about an hour, until he became thoroughly wet and chilled, +and then returned home, without seeing the sight; for the showmen had +shortened their intended route on account of the storm. He entered the +house, vexed by his disappointment and the uncomfortable plight he was +in; and when his mother mildly reproved him for his conduct, and +entreated him to be more careful of himself, he only replied that he +did not wish to live, if he must be shut up in the house all the time. +This act of imprudence and disobedience made him a close prisoner in +the house for several days, besides causing him no little suffering. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar employed much of his leisure time in reading, during his +confinement in-doors. His acquaintances lent him many interesting +books, with which he beguiled the weary hours. One day, happening to +think of a volume belonging to his classmate, Benjamin Wright, which he +thought he should like to read, he sent word by Ralph that he wished to +borrow it. The next morning Benjamin brought it to school, and Ralph +took it home to Oscar. On removing the paper in which it was wrapped +up, a letter dropped out, which Oscar found was directed to himself. +He opened it, and a smile lit up his countenance as he glanced over the +sheet, which was filled up with drawings and writing of an amusing +character. Benjamin was quite famous among the boys for the skill and +facility with which he made sketches, and in this letter he had given a +curious specimen of his artistic talent. The following is a copy of +this production: +</P> + +<P> +</P> + +<P> +DEAR OSCAR: +</P> + +<P> +I am sorry to hear you 're in weakness and pain,<BR> +And I send you a book to beguile your tired brain;<BR> +I send also some puzzles, to stir up your wit,<BR> +And tempt you to laugh, when you really don't feel like it one bit!<BR> +</P> + +<A NAME="img-187a"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-187a.jpg" ALT="A Queer Name." BORDER="2" WIDTH="283" HEIGHT="89"> +<H4> +[Illustration: A Queer Name.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +What a queer name!<BR> +</P> + +<P> +What do we all do when we first get into bed?<BR> +Why is swearing like an old coat?<BR> +What is that which is lengthened by being cut at both ends?<BR> +</P> + +<P> +My first, if you do, you won't hit;<BR> +My second, if you do, you will have it;<BR> +My whole, if you do, you won't guess it.<BR> +</P> + +<A NAME="img-187b"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-187b.jpg" ALT="The Double Face." BORDER="2" WIDTH="183" HEIGHT="178"> +<H4> +[Illustration: The Double Face.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Turn me over, pray.<BR> +</P> + +<P> +A word there is, five syllables contains;<BR> +Take one away, no syllable remains.<BR> +</P> + +<P> +What is that which is lower with a head than without one?<BR> +Who was the first whistler?<BR> +What tune did he whistle?<BR> +How do you swallow a door?<BR> +What is that which lives in winter, dies in summer, and<BR> + grows with its root upwards?<BR> +If you were to tumble out of the window, what would you fall against?<BR> +</P> + +<A NAME="img-188"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-188.jpg" ALT="The Cat-Erect." BORDER="2" WIDTH="151" HEIGHT="132"> +<H4> +[Illustration: The Cat-Erect.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Why is this like the Falls of Niagara?<BR> +If my puzzles are simple, and my pictures a fright,<BR> +Then just laugh at me, and it will all<BR> + B. WRIGHT.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +This letter was the prime source of attraction to all the children, the +rest of the day; and its reception formed an era in Oscar's sick-day +experience, not easily to be forgotten. All the family, from Mr. +Preston down to little George, set themselves to work to guess out the +riddles; but in some of them, they found more than their match. To +Oscar, however, the letter was something more than a collection of +drawings and puzzles. It was a token of interest and sympathy from a +boy towards whom he had never manifested a very friendly spirit. +Benjamin's high standing in the school, both for scholarship and +behavior, had awakened in Oscar a secret feeling of jealousy or +resentment towards him. He was a poor boy, too, and this by no means +increased Oscar's respect for him. But now, Oscar began to feel +ashamed of all this; and as instances of his unkind treatment of his +generous classmate came up in remembrance, he wished he had the power +to blot them from existence. He determined thenceforth to "stand up" +for Benjamin, and began to plan some way of making a return for his +manifestation of good feeling. +</P> + +<P> +Ella wanted to carry Benjamin's letter to school, to show to the girls, +but Oscar would not allow it to go out of his hands. She then begged +the privilege of copying it, to which he consented. She did the best +she could, no doubt, but her drawings probably did not quite do justice +to the subjects; for Oscar declared that her copy was more comical than +the original. She lent it to some of her schoolmates, one of whom was +roguish enough to show it to Benjamin himself! He laughed heartily at +the caricature; but thinking it was getting him rather more notoriety +than he wished, he put it in his pocket, and that was the end of it. +</P> + +<P> +In consequence of his many acts of imprudence, Oscar got along very +slowly in his recovery. Yet he was daily growing more impatient of his +long confinement, and the utmost vigilance of his parents was necessary +to restrain him from doing himself harm. During stormy weather, which +was not rare at that season of the year, he was not allowed to go out, +and the time passed heavily with him. One rainy afternoon, as he was +sitting listlessly at a front window, watching for some object of +interest to pass, a coach stopped at the door, and his heart beat high +at the thought of his dulness being dispelled by the arrival of +"company." The driver opened the coach door, and out jumped a stout, +brown-faced man, whom Oscar at once recognized as his uncle, John +Preston, from Maine. +</P> + +<P> +The arrival of Uncle John was soon heralded through the house, and a +warm greeting extended to him. He usually visited the city thrice a +year on business, and on such occasions made his brother's house his +stopping-place. He lived in the town of Brookdale, where he had a +family; but he was engaged in the lumber business, and generally spent +the winter months in the forests of Maine, with large gangs of loggers, +who were employed to cut down trees, and convey them to the banks of +the streams, where they were floated down to the mills in the spring +freshets. These forests are far from any settlement, and the +lumber-men live in log-huts, in a very independent and care-for-nobody +sort of way. Oscar had often heard his uncle describe their manner of +life, and, to him, there was something quite fascinating about it. He +thought he should like the logging business very much—all but the +<I>working</I> part of it; he was afraid that would spoil the whole, for his +Uncle John always represented it as being pretty hard work. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar had four cousins in Brookdale, the children of his Uncle John, +none of whom he had ever seen. He had many questions to ask about +them, in the course of which he expressed a wish that he might visit +them. His uncle replied that he should like to take him home with him, +and, as he was sick, he thought the journey might do him good. He +afterwards talked with Oscar's parents about the matter, and they +finally concluded to let him go, hoping that a few weeks in the country +would improve his health. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +NOTE.—The following are the solutions of the puzzles, &c., in +Benjamin's letter, contained in this chapter. The first puzzle is the +name of Oscar Preston, enigmatically expressed. 2. Make an impression. +3. It is a bad habit. 4. A ditch. 5. Mistake. 6. Monosyllable. 7. A +pillow. 8. The wind. 9. "Over the hills and far away." 10. Bolt it. +11. An icicle. 12. Against your inclination. 13. It is a cataract +(cat erect). +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE JOURNEY. +</H3> + + +<P> +Oscar's valise was well packed for his journey, and many were the +injunctions given him by his mother, in regard to his conduct during +his absence from home. The morning for his departure soon came, and, +in company with his uncle, he proceeded to the depôt, and took the cars +for Portland. It was a mild spring morning, near the close of May. +Oscar secured a seat by a window, from which he could see the country +they passed through; while his uncle, to whom the journey was no +novelty, seated himself by his side, and was soon absorbed in his +morning newspaper. +</P> + +<P> +The keen relish with which Oscar set out upon his long ride gradually +wore off, and he began to feel weary long before the train reached its +destination. It was just noon when they arrived at Portland; and as it +was too late to reach Brookdale that day, Oscar's uncle concluded to +stop there until the next morning. They proceeded to a hotel, where +they booked their names, and were shown to a chamber. After dinner, +Mr. Preston took Oscar to walk, and showed him some of the most notable +places about town. But the latter felt too tired to walk about a great +deal, and spent most of the afternoon in the hotel, while his uncle was +off attending to some business. +</P> + +<P> +After supper, Mr. Preston again went out to make some calls. He +invited Oscar to go with him, but he preferred to remain in the hotel. +He lounged awhile in the bar-room, as it was called (though there was +no bar in it), listening to the conversation of the men who had +gathered there. At length, beginning to grow sleepy, he retired to his +chamber, taking with him a queer little lamp the landlord gave him, +which appeared to hold only about a thimblefull of oil. Oscar thought +it was a stingy contrivance, and had some notion of sitting up to see +how long it would burn; but his eyelids grew heavy, and he gave up the +idea. Throwing off his clothing, he extinguished his diminutive lamp, +and took possession of one of the beds in the room, of which there were +two. As he composed himself to sleep, a slight sense of lonesomeness +stole over him, when he remembered that he was alone in a strange house +and a strange city, more than a hundred miles from his home; and almost +unconsciously he found himself reverently repeating the little prayer +he had been taught by his mother in infancy, but which of late years, +in his sad waywardness, he had outgrown and almost forgotten: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Now I lay me down to sleep,<BR> +I pray the lord my soul to keep;<BR> +If I should die before I wake,<BR> +I pray the lord my soul to take."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +He had occasionally repeated to himself this simple but appropriate +evening petition during his late illness; but, strange to tell, for +several years previous to that time, the thought of asking anything of +the great Giver of all good had scarcely ever entered his mind. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar was soon fast asleep, and the next thing he was conscious of was +the striking of a strange church-clock, that awoke him in the morning. +His uncle was dressing himself, and the sun was shining in at the +window. For a moment, he was puzzled to determine where he was; but +his recollection returned when his uncle remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"Come, Oscar, it is time to get up,—we have got to be at the depôt in +an hour." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar jumped out of bed, and was dressed and ready for the breakfast +table before the bell rang. After the morning meal was +despatched,—for it was literally a work of despatch, judging from the +celerity with which the heaping plates of hot biscuits and beef-steak +disappeared from the long table,—Mr. Preston settled with the +landlord, and proceeded with Oscar to the railroad depôt. +</P> + +<P> +"How much further have we got to go?" inquired Oscar, after they had +taken their seat in the car. +</P> + +<P> +"About one hundred and twenty miles," replied his uncle; "and +thirty-five of it will be in a stage-coach—that is the worst of the +whole journey." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall like that part of it first-rate, I guess," said Oscar. "If +they have good horses, I know I shall." +</P> + +<P> +"You will find out how you like it, before night," added Mr. Preston, +with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +The cars were soon on their way, and Oscar's eyes and attention were +fully engaged in taking note of the scenery from the windows. The +appearance of the country did not differ much from that through which +he passed the day previous; and long before he reached the end of his +eighty-miles' ride, his attention began to flag, and his eyes to grow +weary. It was about eleven o'clock, when they arrived at the depôt at +which they were to leave the train. Here they had an opportunity to +rest an hour, and to take dinner, before resuming their journey. +</P> + +<P> +After dinner, the stage-coach made its appearance, and the passengers +began to stow themselves away within it, Oscar mounted the outside, and +took a seat with the driver, with whom he was soon on intimate terms. +All things being ready, the horses started, at the familiar "Get up!" +and they were on their way toward Brookdale. +</P> + +<P> +The horses did not prove quite so smart as Oscar hoped they would, and +the coach was a heavy and hard-riding concern, compared with those he +was accustomed to ride upon at home. But the road was good, though +hilly, and the scenery, much of the way, was very pleasant. The +driver, too, was quite talkative, and Oscar being the only outside +passenger, enjoyed the full benefit of his communicativeness. +Occasionally they passed through a village, with its rows of neat white +houses, its tall church steeple, its bustling store, and its groups of +children playing in the streets. Now and then they stopped a few +moments, to leave a passenger, a package, or a mail-bag; for the strong +leathern bags, with brass padlocks, which the driver had carefully +packed away under his box, contained the United States' mails for the +towns along his route. +</P> + +<P> +As they advanced on their way, the villages became less frequent, the +farm houses were more scattering, and the country grew more wild. +Sometimes the road extended for miles through thickly-wooded forests. +Occasionally they would come in sight of a river, and, perhaps, would +hear the clatter and whizzing of a saw-mill, or get a glimpse of a raft +of logs floating lazily down the stream. It was about six o'clock when +the stage stopped at the post-office of a small settlement, and the +driver told Oscar he was going to leave him there. His seat had grown +tiresome, during the last few hours, and he was by no means sorry to +leave it. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Jerry, here I am again," said Mr. Preston, addressing a boy who +stood by. "How are all the folks at home?" +</P> + +<P> +"They are well," replied the boy addressed. +</P> + +<P> +"This way Oscar," said Mr. Preston, pointing to a horse and wagon on +the opposite side of the street. "Oscar, this is your cousin Jerry," +he continued, and the boys shook hands with each other, in +acknowledgment of the introduction. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar now learned that they were yet five miles from Brookdale, and +that as the stage did not pass any nearer to his uncle's, Jerry had +come over with a horse to take his father home. There being but one +seat to the wagon, Mr. Preston and Oscar took possession of it, while +Jerry seated himself on the floor behind them. While on the way to +Brookdale, Oscar addressed several remarks to his cousin; but the +latter seemed shy, and they did not get acquainted with each other very +fast. They passed but very few houses, and Oscar looked in vain for +any signs of a village. At length, when he thought they could not be +far from their journey's end, he inquired: +</P> + +<P> +"Where is the village, uncle John? Shan't we see any of it, going to +your house?" +</P> + +<P> +"This is the village," replied Mr. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"This a village!" exclaimed Oscar; "why, I don't see any houses." +</P> + +<P> +"This is all the village there is," replied his uncle; "there are +hardly any two houses in sight of each other in the town." +</P> + +<P> +They were now approaching an old, two-story farmhouse, in the doorway +of which a woman and several children were standing, looking towards +them. This proved to be the end of their journey. Having driven the +wagon into the large barn which stood nearly opposite the house, Mr. +Preston left Jerry to put up the horse, and proceeded at once to the +house with his nephew. Mrs. Preston had seen Oscar in Boston, and came +out to meet him. She welcomed him very cordially, and inquired after +all the other members of the family. She then introduced him to his +three other cousins, Emily, Harriet, and Mary, all of whom were younger +than Jerry, and quite as shy and silent as he, at the presence of a +stranger. +</P> + +<P> +Supper was now ready, and all the family, including James, the hired +man, seated themselves at the table. Mr. Preston, during the meal, +talked freely of what he had seen and done since he left home; but the +children maintained their gravity and silence, though Oscar tried hard +to break the ice of restraint with Jerry, who sat by his side. A +strange face was an unusual thing among them, and they could not get +over it in a moment. +</P> + +<P> +After supper, Mrs. Preston and her oldest daughter cleared off the +table and washed the dishes; James and Jerry went out to the barn; Mr. +Preston sat down to a table to examine some papers he had in his +pocket-book; while Harriet and Mary remained, to keep Oscar company. +The latter now began to make advances towards his youngest cousin, who +was the prettiest and most interesting of the children. A little +coaxing brought her to his side. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know what my name is, Sissy?" he inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; it's Oscar," she replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar what?" he inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"Cousin Oscar," she answered, after a little hesitation. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but that is n't all of it," replied Oscar; "don't you know the +other part of it—Cousin Oscar——what?" +</P> + +<P> +Mary looked thoughtful a moment, and then replied, in a confident tone, +"Boston." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar could not help laughing at this amusing mistake, and Mary, +feeling hurt at the liberty he took, began to move away; but he held +her by the hand, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"No, don't go yet, Sissy—you got my name almost right, after all. +Cousin Oscar Preston, from Boston,—that was what you meant to say, was +n't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Now tell me what your name is?" continued Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Mary Preston," she replied. +</P> + +<P> +"And how old are you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm going to be six next winter," she answered, with animation. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well,—you 're a smart little girl," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"How old be you?" inquired Mary, now turning the table upon her +questioner. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm fourteen," said Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"You 're a smart little boy," added Mary, with a roguish twinkle in her +eye, and she darted out of the room with a merry laugh. +</P> + +<P> +After that, there was no more shyness between Mary and Oscar. With the +older children, however, Oscar did not get acquainted quite so easily, +particularly with the girls. He made but little progress with any of +them that evening, until he retired with Jerry, with whom he was to +sleep during his visit. After they had got into bed, Jerry's tongue +was loosed, and before they went to sleep his reserve had almost +entirely vanished. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BROOKDALE. +</H3> + + +<P> +The next morning the air was extremely raw and chilly, and there were +strong indications of rain. Oscar's uncle and aunt advised him so +earnestly not to expose himself to the cold and damp wind, that he did +not extend his rambles any further than to the barn that day. But if +he did not go far, he made many new acquaintances. Having made sure of +Jerry and Mary, he left his other two cousins to "surrender at +discretion," and turned his attention in another direction. His first +performance was to introduce himself to Billy, the horse, who was +eating the breakfast James had just given him. After rubbing and +talking to him awhile, he paid his respects to a pair of oxen and three +or four cows, which he helped James and Jerry to drive into the pasture +near the barn. He next visited the hogs, and then the hens. This +completed the list of life stock on the farm. He then had a frolic +with Jerry in the hay-loft, in the midst of which he suddenly stopped +and inquired: +</P> + +<P> +"Is n't it almost time for you to go to school, Jerry?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," his cousin replied, with a laugh, "it wants just six months of +it." +</P> + +<P> +"Six months!" exclaimed Oscar; "what do you mean? Don't you go to +school?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I go when there is any school; but it does n't commence till next +December," replied Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +"That's a queer idea," said Oscar; "I should like to know how long your +school keeps, after it begins." +</P> + +<P> +"It keeps three months," replied Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +"I should like that first-rate—I wish I lived here," said Oscar; "I +have to go to school all the time. But why does n't your school keep +more than three months?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," replied Jerry; "I guess it's because folks are too +stingy to pay for it. They 've been talking of having a summer school, +but I don't believe it will amount to anything." +</P> + +<P> +"I should hope it would n't if I lived here," said Oscar. "What +capital times you must have!—no school to bother you, and no lessons +to get. But I suppose you have to work some—don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, not much," said Jerry; "I help a little in planting and haying +time, and have a few chores to do about the house,—that's all." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you have many boys to play with?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"There are boys enough," replied his cousin, "but they are scattered +all over town,—that's the worst of it. There is only one fellow of my +age that lives near here, and he's half a mile off." +</P> + +<P> +"If you call that near, I should like to know what you call distant," +said Oscar. "I 'm afraid I should be lonesome if I lived here." +</P> + +<P> +"Halloo, it rains!" said Jerry, as the big drops began to sound upon +the roof over their heads. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I 'm going in," added Oscar, and they both started for the house. +</P> + +<P> +It proved to be a rainy day, and Oscar was obliged to find his +amusement in-doors through its remaining hours. With his four cousins +to help him, this was not a very difficult matter. When he retired at +night, he felt quite at home in his new quarters. +</P> + +<P> +The sun rose clearly the next morning, and everything looked the more +beautiful for the rain. To Oscar, the fields not only seemed greener, +but the hills looked higher, and the trees more majestic, than they did +the day before. +</P> + +<P> +"Why," he exclaimed, as he stood before the chamber window, "there is a +pond away off there, is n't there? I did n't know that before." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's a pond," replied Jerry, "and we 've got a small river, +too, but you can't see it from here. We 'll go over to the pond, some +warm day, and go into water; it's a real good place to bathe." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps we 'll go to-day," said Oscar; "it looks as though it were +going to be real warm." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Preston now called to the boys that breakfast was ready, and they +hurriedly finished dressing themselves, and descended to the kitchen. +Having washed his face at the sink, Oscar stepped to the door, and used +his pocket-comb; but Jerry was in too great a hurry to go through this +last operation, and he was about taking his seat at the table, with his +hair standing up in every direction, when his father inquired: +</P> + +<P> +"Jerry, what have you been doing to your head?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing," replied Jerry, with a look of surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I think you had better do something to it, before you come +here," said his father. "Oscar will think you were brought up among +the wild Arabs, if you come to the table with such a mop of hair as +that about your head. Don't you see how nicely he has smoothed his +hair?" +</P> + +<P> +"He's got a comb of his own. I wish you would buy me one, father," +said Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't stand there talking—go and comb your hair," said Mr. Preston, +somewhat sharply. +</P> + +<P> +To tell the truth, Jerry did need a lesson in neatness; and in this +respect, Oscar was a very good model for him to imitate. Having +reduced his snarly locks to something like order and smoothness, Jerry +took his seat at the table, much improved in appearance. +</P> + +<P> +"You 'll have a chance to go about some to-day, Oscar," said Mr. +Preston; "it's about twenty-five degrees warmer than it was yesterday." +</P> + +<P> +"Father," said Jerry, "I and Oscar—" +</P> + +<P> +"I and Oscar—where did you learn your manners?" interrupted his mother. +</P> + +<P> +Jerry was for a moment in doubt whether to be offended or not at this +second unexpected lesson in good-breeding; but he finally concluded to +make the best of it, and went on with his story: +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar and I, then—were going over to the pond this forenoon, and I +guess it will be warm enough for us to go into water. Should n't you +think it would?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed," replied Mr. Preston, "you mustn't think of such a thing. +It's only the first of June, and you ought not to go into water for two +or three weeks yet. Besides, Oscar 's an invalid, and I should n't +like to have him go in, even if it was warm enough for you. I would +n't walk about much, either, at first," he continued, addressing Oscar. +"You 're weak, and must look out, and not overdo yourself. This +afternoon, when the horse is at leisure, Jerry shall give you a ride; +so you had better not go far this forenoon." +</P> + +<P> +The river of which Jerry spoke is a small stream that has its source in +the lake Oscar saw from the chamber window. It flows in a +south-westerly direction, crossing the road on which Mr. Preston lived, +not far from his house. A small bridge is thrown over the river at +this point. After breakfast, Jerry and Oscar walked down to this +bridge, and then, leaving the road, followed the river through the +fields and woods, to its fountain-head. Here they found a beautiful +sheet of water, more than half a mile across, in one direction, with an +irregular shore, fringed most of the way with woods. A two-masted +sail-boat was riding at anchor, a little off from the shore, which +Oscar regarded with wishful eye; but as it did not belong to Mr. +Preston, and they could not reach it without going into the water, it +was of no use to think of taking a sail. They now walked along the +edge of the pond, some distance, and after wandering some time in the +woods, they returned home by a circuitous route. +</P> + +<P> +The annexed map of Brookdale will show the location of the pond, river, +&c. Jerry lived in the house numbered 2. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-211"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-211.jpg" ALT="Map of Brookdale." BORDER="2" WIDTH="277" HEIGHT="239"> +<H4> +[Illustration: Map of Brookdale.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Oscar and Jerry spent the rest of the forenoon in the barn and +wood-shed, and in the fields immediately around the house. After +dinner, Mr. Preston told the boys they could have the horse and wagon, +and as the family wanted some groceries, they might ride over to the +store and get them. They accordingly tackled up the team, and were +soon on their way. +</P> + +<P> +The store at which Mr. Preston traded was at the village where the +stage left Oscar, which goes by the name of the "Cross-Roads," from the +fact that two of the principal thoroughfares of that section of country +cross at this point. Though this store was about five miles distant, +there was no other one nearer to Mr. Preston's. The boys had a fine +ride over to the village. Oscar drove, and was quite anxious to put +Billy to a test of his speed; but as his uncle told them not to hurry, +because the horse had been worked some in the forenoon, he did not dare +to make any experiment of this kind. Jerry assured him, however, that +he once drove Billy over to the Cross-Roads in just twenty minutes, +which was the quickest time he had ever been known to make. He thought +this a remarkable feat; but Oscar did not seem much astonished at it, +and said he knew of horses that could go a mile in three minutes, and +even in less time if the road was smooth and level. +</P> + +<P> +After riding about three-quarters of an hour, they arrived at the +Cross-Roads, and drove up to a post and chain for tying horses in front +of the store. The store was kept in a large wooden building. Over the +door was the sign, "J. FLETCHER, VARIETY STORE;" and the shutters were +covered with columns of names of articles sold within, such as "Bacon," +"Cheese," "Flour," "Grain," "Shoes," "Dry Goods," &c. Another sign in +one of the windows indicated that this was also the post-office of the +village. +</P> + +<P> +The boys went into the store, and while Jerry was ordering the articles +his mother had sent for, Oscar improved the opportunity to look around +the premises. It was to him a queer assortment of goods. There seemed +to be a little of everything for sale. Here you could buy of one +salesman articles that you could obtain in Boston only by visiting a +dozen different shops. Groceries and dry goods, country produce and +hardware, boots, shoes, and hats, confectionary and fancy articles, +stoves and children's toys, were in most neighborly companionship. +Before leaving the store, Oscar invested a few cents in candy and +cigars; for his father had given him a little spare change beyond what +was necessary to defray the expenses of the journey. He shared the +candy with Jerry, and put the cigars in his pocket for future use. +</P> + +<P> +Jerry having finished his business at the store, they set out on their +return, and arrived home in safety and without meeting with any +remarkable adventure. The boys employed themselves the rest of the +afternoon in planning excursions and amusements, and before they got +through, they had laid out "fun" enough to occupy them for several days. +</P> + +<P> +The evenings were now quite short, and as it was the custom to retire +to bed early at Mr. Preston's, it frequently happened that no lamps +were lit in the house for several days in succession. As twilight came +on that evening, Oscar, who began to feel pretty tired, laid down upon +the sofa in the sitting-room, and in a few minutes was fast asleep. +Jerry got a straw, and was about to tickle his ear, when his mother +stopped him. Oscar's nap, however, was a short one, and suddenly +waking up, he began to laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess you had a pleasant dream," said his aunt. +</P> + +<P> +"I had a real funny one," replied Oscar. "I thought you sent me over +to the store to get some things, and when I got there, I had them all +jumbled together in my head, and I told the man I wanted a yard of +molasses, and a pound of calico, and a gallon of shingle-nails, and I +did n't know what else. And I thought the man laughed, and asked me if +I would take them loose, or have them done up in a rag. Then another +boy that was in the store set up a loud laugh, and that woke me up. I +wonder how long I slept—do you know, aunt?" +</P> + +<P> +"Only two or three minutes," replied Mrs. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"I was real smart, then," replied Oscar; "for you gave me my errand, +and I harnessed the horse and drove away over to the Cross-Roads, and +went through the scene in the store, and woke up again, all in two or +three minutes. I thought I 'd been asleep half an hour." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think you 'd dream about the store," said Jerry; "you 've +made fun enough about it, if that 's all." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I 'll leave it to aunt if it is n't odd to see such a queer lot +of stuff in one store; I 've heard about country stores, but I never +saw one that would come up to that before. It is almost equal to going +into a fair, to go in there. There was everything you could think of, +from a grindstone to a pop-gun." +</P> + +<P> +"There is n't business enough to support more than one trader, and that +is the reason why Mr. Fletcher keeps such a variety," said Mrs. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"I know that," said Oscar, "and I suppose the folks are glad to have +him keep all sorts of knick-knacks; but it seems queer to me, to see +groceries and dry goods, and everything else, in the same shop." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you see any babies there?" inquired little Mary, who was amusing +herself by walking around the room backwards. +</P> + +<P> +"What sort of babies—live ones, or rag ones, or wax ones?" inquired +Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"No, none of them," replied Mary; "I mean crying babies, like Annie +Davenport's." +</P> + +<P> +"O, you mean those little dolls that make a squeaking noise when you +squeeze them. No, I believe I did n't see any," said Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"No, Mr. Fletcher would n't keep such silly things as them," said +Jerry, who was very fond of teasing his sisters. +</P> + +<P> +"No, they aint silly, either, are they cousin Oscar?" said Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Oscar, "seeing it's you, they aint silly." +</P> + +<P> +Mary was continuing her backward walk around the room, and was just at +that moment passing before Jerry, when he suddenly put out his foot, +and stumbling over it, she fell heavily upon the floor, striking her +head against a corner of the sofa. A loud scream immediately followed +this mishap, and as the author of it hastened to raise up his sister, +he was himself a little frightened; but seeing no blood flowing from +her head, he concluded she was "more scared than hurt," and tried to +turn the affair into a joke, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"There, sis, you're a little crying baby yourself, now. Come, stop +your noise; you 've blubbered enough about it. It didn't hurt you, did +it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Come here, dear, what is the matter?" said Mrs. Preston, who had left +the room a moment before, and hurried back on hearing Mary scream. +</P> + +<P> +"Jerry knocked me over," said Mary, sobbing bitterly, as her mother +lifted her up into her lap. +</P> + +<P> +"Where did it hurt you, dear?—there? Well, let mother rub it, and it +will feel better soon. Jerry is a naughty boy to do so. Why need you +torment your little sister so?" Mrs. Preston added, turning to Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Preston, who had been sitting upon the door-step, smoking his pipe, +as was his custom in the evening, came in, on hearing the uproar; and +having ascertained what the trouble was, he boxed Jerry's ears pretty +severely, and sent him off to bed. Oscar soon followed him; but Jerry +was so mortified at the rough handling he had received, that he +scarcely spoke again that night. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN THE WOODS. +</H3> + + +<P> +It was soon evident that the air of Brookdale agreed with Oscar. He +was fast gaining his strength, and the increased fulness and color of +his countenance betokened returning health. No part of this +improvement was to be attributed to the bottle of cough drops his +mother packed away in the bottom of his valise, and charged him to take +every morning and night; for the drops were not very palatable, and he +had not opened the bottle since he left home. In fact, he had by this +time quite forgotten both the medicine and his mother's injunction. +</P> + +<P> +So rapid was the improvement in Oscar's health, that two or three days +after his trip to the Cross-Roads, Mr. Preston gave his consent to an +excursion he and Jerry had planned, which was to occupy a whole day. +"Old Staple's Hut," as it was called, was the place they proposed to +visit. It was about four miles distant, beyond the hills in the +north-east part of the town, represented in the upper corner of the map +of Brookdale. They were to carry their dinner, and Mrs. Preston +accordingly filled a small basket with eatables. While she was doing +this, Jerry took Oscar aside and said: +</P> + +<P> +"There is one thing more we want, and that is father's gun. I know he +won't let me have it, but I guess he would lend it to you, if you +should ask him." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we must have a gun," replied Oscar; "and I should just as lief +ask him for it as not." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar hunted up his uncle, and made known his request. Mr. Preston +hesitated a moment, and then inquired: +</P> + +<P> +"Does your father allow you to use a gun at home?" +</P> + +<P> +"He never says anything about it, either way," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess you had better not take the gun," said Mr. Preston. "I +'m afraid you might get hurt,—that's all I care about. I don't allow +Jerry to use firearms, and I should n't like to put anything of the +kind into your hands without your father's consent." +</P> + +<P> +"But I 'll be very careful if you 'll let me have it," added Oscar. "I +'ve fired a gun several times, and know how to handle it." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I think you had better not carry the gun with you," replied his +uncle. "If you used it, Jerry would think he must, and I know he is +too careless to be trusted with it. He 'd shoot you, just as like as +not, if he did n't kill himself." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Preston's tone was so decided, that Oscar saw it would be useless +to say anything more about the gun, and so he and Jerry were obliged to +abandon the idea of taking it with them. Taking their basket of +provisions, they accordingly set out on their long tramp. Leaving the +road, and turning into a footpath through the fields, they passed close +by the upper edge of the pond. In this part of their walk there was a +good deal of swamp land, and a number of brooks to cross. Sometimes +they had to pick their way along upon stones which had been placed at +regular intervals in wet places, or upon old logs that served for +bridges; and at times it required no little skill in balancing to avoid +getting a wet foot. After they had got beyond the pond, however, the +land gradually ascended, and was mostly occupied as pastures for +cattle. But they still occasionally came to a brook, flowing down from +the hills towards the pond. Most of them were so narrow, they could +easily jump over them; but in one instance they were obliged to take +off their shoes and stockings and wade across. +</P> + +<P> +"Now you see why this place is called Brookdale," said Jerry, after +they had passed four or five of these little streams. +</P> + +<P> +"Is that the reason, because there are so many brooks? I never thought +of that before," said Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's it," replied Jerry. "In the spring these brooks make +quite a show; but they get low in the summer, and generally dry up in +August, unless it's a very wet season." +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm going to cut me a cane," said Oscar, taking out his knife; "I see +a real straight and handsome one in there," and he pointed to a thicket +they were approaching. +</P> + +<P> +"That's nothing but birch—that won't make a good cane," replied Jerry; +"stop a minute, and I 'll find you something better." +</P> + +<P> +After looking about a little, Jerry found some beeches, which he said +would make good canes. They accordingly cut two of the straightest and +handsomest. +</P> + +<P> +"I mean to try an experiment with mine," said Oscar, "and see if I +can't crook the top of it. Do you know how they do it, Jerry?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I always thought they grew in that shape," replied Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +"A man told me they boiled the end of the stick and then bent it," said +Oscar. "He said that was the way all the hooked canes were made. I +don't know whether he knew or not, but I mean to try it some day, and +see how it works." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe in that," said Jerry. "It is n't very likely you can +bend such a stick as that without breaking it; just see how stiff it +is." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care, I'll try it, just to satisfy myself," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar was right in regard to bending wood. The hooked-top +walking-sticks are made in the way he described,—by boiling the end, +and then bending it into an arch. In boiling wood, several substances +which enter into its composition are dissolved, and others are +softened, so that it is rendered flexible. +</P> + +<P> +The boys trudged slowly on their way, now aided by their canes, which, +in a long walk, are of no slight service to the pedestrian. As they +sauntered along, chatting, singing, and whistling, as merrily as the +birds around them, Oscar remembered the cigars he bought at the store, +and soon the pure atmosphere of the fields was polluted with the vile +odor of bad tobacco. Oscar had been in the habit of smoking +occasionally for some time; but though he considered it a manly +accomplishment, he was very careful not to let his parents know that he +was addicted to it. He prevailed upon his cousin to take a cigar; but +Jerry was not very partial to tobacco, and a few whiffs satisfied him +for that occasion. +</P> + +<P> +They had now reached the foot of the long, steep hills, over which they +must climb. These hills were thickly wooded most of the way, forming +beautiful groves, cool, dark, fragrant with resinous odors, and softly +carpeted with moss and decayed leaves. Oscar and Jerry concluded to +rest a few minutes before scaling the hills. Selecting a favorable +spot, they stretched themselves at full length upon the ground, and +looked up towards the distant tree-tops. It was a pine forest, and the +trees were as straight as an arrow, and so tall that their tops almost +seemed among the clouds. The moaning of the wind among the topmost +branches sounded like the distant roar of the sea. Birds were skipping +merrily among the "tasselled boughs," and curiously eying the young +strangers who had invaded their solitude. +</P> + +<P> +"O, how I wish I had that gun now!" said Oscar, as a fine plump robin +lit on one of the lower branches of a tree right over his head. +</P> + +<P> +In repay for this generous wish, Signor Robin executed one of his +choicest songs in his handsomest style, and, without waiting for an +encore from his audience, darted off and was quickly out of sight. But +it is probable the audience thought more of the "good shot" he +presented, than of the sweet strains he poured forth for their +entertainment. +</P> + +<P> +"There's better game than that in these woods," said Jerry, after the +robin had taken his departure. +</P> + +<P> +"Is there anything besides birds?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Jerry, "there are rabbits, and woodchucks, and weasels, +and skunks, and squirrels; and some folks say there are wild-cats here, +but I don't know about that. Jim Oakley, a fellow who lives about a +mile from our house, comes over here gunning very often; and he says he +saw a real savage-looking creature here, a few weeks ago, that he took +to be a wild-cat. He fired at it, but it got clear of him. He says it +looked a good deal like a cat, only it was larger, and had a little +short tail. I wish he 'd killed it. I should like to know what it +was. I never saw a wild-cat; did you?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"But that was n't equal to something a man came across in the woods the +other side of these hills, two or three years ago," continued Jerry. +"What do you suppose it was?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know; was it a moose?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Jerry; "moose come down into this neighborhood, once in +awhile, but that was n't what I was going to tell you about. There is +a road through these woods, a little beyond the hills. It is n't +travelled much, except by the loggers in the fall and spring. A man +was riding along this road, one afternoon in summer, when he suddenly +came across a monstrous black bear. As soon as the bear saw him, he +squat down on his haunches, right in the middle of the road, and began +to show his teeth. The man didn't dare to drive by him, and his horse +was so frightened that it was as much as he could do to hold him in. +He had a loaded revolver with him, but he knew there was n't much hope +of killing the bear with that. So he turned his horse about, and +concluded to go back to the nearest house, and get a gun and somebody +to help him kill the bear. The bear sat still, watching him, as much +as to say, 'If you'll let me alone, I 'll let you alone;' but just as +the man was starting up, he thought he would try his pistol, and so he +blazed away at the bear. Two or three of the shot hit the bear in the +shoulder. They did n't hurt him much, only enough to rouse his dander; +but he sprang up as quick as lightning, and started after the team. +The man whipped up his horse, and the bear 'pulled foot' after him, and +did n't give up the race till he had run about a quarter of a mile. +The man said if he had been afoot, the bear would have beat him at +running, but he could n't keep up with the horse. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the man went back three or four miles, and got another man to go +with him in search of the bear. They armed themselves with guns and +hunting-knives; but when they drove back to where the man met the bear, +they could n't find anything of him. They traced his tracks into the +woods, but after awhile they lost them, and as it was getting late, +they gave up the hunt; and nobody hereabouts has seen that bear from +that day to this." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps he's about here now—who knows?" said Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I guess he went right back to the place he came from," replied +Jerry. "Somebody would have seen him, if he 'd stayed around here." +</P> + +<P> +"Where do you suppose he came from?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"From way back in the woods, fifty miles from here," replied Jerry. +"There had been great fires in the woods that summer, and I suppose he +got burned out, or frightened, and that was the reason he came down +this way." +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to meet such a customer," said Oscar; "only I should +want to have a good double-barrelled gun with me. I read in a +newspaper, the other day, about a boy up in New Hampshire, who met a +bear and two cubs, all alone in the woods. He had a gun with him, and +killed the old one, and one of the cubs, but the other cub got off. +That was doing pretty well, wasn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"'Twas so," said Jerry; "but I guess you would n't have done quite so +well as that." +</P> + +<P> +"I bet I should have tried, at any rate," said Oscar, who really was +not deficient in courage, though he had hardly practiced hunting enough +to justify him in believing that he could master so savage an animal as +a bear. +</P> + +<P> +Having rested themselves, the boys resumed their journey, and after ten +minutes' hard work, reached the top of the range of hills. The highest +summit was a bare ledge of rock, and they concluded to climb to the top +of it, for the sake of the view to be obtained. It was called +"Prospect Rock," and was very appropriately named. As the boys stood +upon it, the country for miles around was spread out at their +feet,—houses, and cultivated fields, and forests, and roads, and +narrow streams. A distant mountain was visible in the west, which +Jerry said was about twenty miles off, though it seemed much nearer. +After enjoying the scene a few minutes, they began to descend the hill +on the other side. They kept their eyes open, for game, but they saw +only a few squirrels, and one rabbit, which bounded off, and was out of +sight in a moment. Jerry pointed out to Oscar a woodchuck's hole, near +the foot of the hill. +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to see a woodchuck," said Oscar; "what do they look +like?" +</P> + +<P> +"They 're about as big as a rabbit, and are of a brownish color," +replied Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you suppose there's one in that hole?" inquired Oscar; "let's see +if we can't scare him out." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know whether there is or not," replied Jerry; "but if there +was, we could n't dig him out without shovels. They burrow real deep. +If we had brought a dog with us, how he would dig into that hole!" +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had my Tiger here," said Oscar; "it's too bad father would +n't let me bring him with me." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar thrust his cane into the hole, but did not reach the end of it; +and if the occupant of the tenement was within, he did not think it +worth while to show himself. The boys accordingly renewed their +journey. After they had reached the foot of the hill, they had to +cross a swamp. With its wet and miry bottom, and its dense growth of +vines, bushes, and small trees, this was no easy matter; but they +succeeded in getting through with no damage save wet feet, a few slight +scratches, and a good many mosquito bites. This latter trouble was the +most serious of all. The mosquitoes were large and ferocious. They +bit right through jacket, vest, and all, and Oscar declared that their +sharp stings even penetrated his boots. +</P> + +<P> +After the boys emerged from the swamp, they came to the road in which +the man met a bear. They followed this road a short distance, till it +brought them to the shore of a large and beautiful pond. Leaving the +highway, they now walked along by the edge of the water, and soon came +to the old hut they were in pursuit of. It was but a few rods from the +pond, and was directly under the brow of a steep and rocky hill. It +had a very old and decayed appearance. The roof had fallen in, the +door had disappeared, and the single window was without sash or glass. +It contained but one apartment, and that was very small, and so choked +up with rubbish that the boys did not try to enter. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that must have been a great place for a man to live in," said +Oscar, after he had inspected the premises. "How long has the old +fellow been dead?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," said Jerry; "it must be fifteen years, for he died +before I was born." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what he lived here for; does anybody know?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"No, he was a hermit, and that's all anybody knows about him. They say +he used to have a garden, and raised everything he wanted to eat. In +the summer time he used to work a good deal for two or three farmers +that lived over at Cedar Hill, at the further end of the pond. He had +a little skiff, and rowed back and forth in that. He never used to +spend any money, and people say he must have had all of a thousand +dollars, that he had earned, when he died; but nobody knew what became +of it. They suppose he buried it about here somewhere, or hid it in +some rock." +</P> + +<P> +"A thousand dollars!" said Oscar; "I 'm going to hunt for that; what +will you bet I won't find it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh!" replied Jerry, "people have searched all round here, and dug +holes, and pulled up the floor of the hut, more than a hundred times; +and I guess there's no danger of your finding the money now." +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm going to try, at any rate," said Oscar, and he get up from the +stone upon which he was seated. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop, don't go now," said Jerry; "let's make a fire and get dinner +first—I 'm just about half starved." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar fell in with this suggestion, and they gathered together a lot of +brush and other dry wood, and soon had a good fire kindled against a +large stone, which happened to be hollowed out something like a +fireplace. Among the provisions they had brought with them were half a +dozen potatoes, which they buried in the embers after the fire had got +well under way. While these were baking, they employed themselves in +gathering wood and watching the fire. They also found some slices of +cheese in their basket, which they toasted by holding it before the +fire upon the point of a sharp stick. When their preparations for +dinner were about completed, Oscar inquired: +</P> + +<P> +"Where shall we find some water to drink? Is there a spring about +here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Water, why, there's plenty of it," replied Jerry pointing to the pond. +</P> + +<P> +"What! you don't mean to drink pond water, do you?" said Oscar, +somewhat surprised. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes I do," replied Jerry; "that's good water—old Staples drank it all +the time he lived here." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, come to think of it, I suppose it is good," said Oscar; "for our +Cochituate water, in Boston, is nothing but pond water. It seems +queer, though, to dip it right out of the pond; but I suppose it is +just as good as though we drew it from an aqueduct." +</P> + +<P> +There was a tin dipper in the basket, and Oscar took it, and went down +to the pond, to try the water. He found it clear, and agreeable to the +taste, though not very cold. Filling the dipper, he returned to the +fire, where Jerry now had the dinner in readiness. They found a large +flat stone, which answered for a table, and spreading their provisions +upon it, they threw themselves upon the grass, and began to eat. The +potatoes were nicely roasted, and, indeed, all the articles that helped +to form their rural repast, tasted uncommonly well. Even the pond +water, Oscar confessed, would have been equal to the Cochituate, if +they had only had a little ice to put in it. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-233"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-233.jpg" ALT="The Dinner in the Woods." BORDER="2" WIDTH="258" HEIGHT="285"> +<H4> +[Illustration: The Dinner in the Woods.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +After dinner, Oscar commenced his search for the hidden treasures, and +Jerry, impelled by sympathy, joined in the hunt, though with no very +sanguine expectations of finding the hermit's gold. They examined the +hut, and poked over the rubbish, within and about it. They walked over +the ground, around the cabin, turning over stones, looking after holes +in the trunks of trees, and peering curiously into every crack and +crevice they could find. They then climbed up the rocks behind the +hut, and patiently continued their search, talking earnestly, the +meanwhile, about what they should do with the money, if they found it. +Oscar said if he found the money, he should buy the best horse he could +find. He should not go to school any more, but should spend his time +in riding, and going to places of amusement. If his father did not +like it, he should leave home, and board at a hotel. Jerry, on the +other hand, wanted to see the world. If <I>he</I> found the money, he was +going to travel all over the country. After visiting the great +Atlantic cities, he should go to California, and stop a few months, +just long enough to dig a few thousand dollars out of the mines—and +then he should push on to China, and India, and Europe, and come home +in one of the Collins steamers. It was finally agreed, however, that +if either of them found the treasure, it should be equally divided +between them, and with this friendly understanding, they renewed their +search, with fresh zeal. +</P> + +<P> +"It's real hot; what do you say about going into water?" inquired +Oscar, after they had ransacked the neighborhood pretty thoroughly, and +worked themselves into a perspiration. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'll go in if you will," said Jerry. "Father did n't tell us not to +go in to-day—I was afraid he would; but he did n't say anything about +it." +</P> + +<P> +"He need n't know it, if we do go in," suggested Oscar, who knew very +well that his uncle would not approve of his bathing so early in the +season, and so soon after his sickness. +</P> + +<P> +"No, he won't know anything about it," added Jerry; "and I don't +believe it can do us any hurt, for it is as warm as it is in the middle +of summer. I 've been into water many a time, when it was colder than +it is now." +</P> + +<P> +They did not debate the question long, but throwing off their clothes, +they soon plunged into the clear lake. The water did not feel quite so +warm to their bodies, as it tasted when they washed down their dinner +with it. Still, it was not very cold; and as the place was quite +convenient for bathing, having a hard, gravelly bottom, with a gradual +slope, they enjoyed their dip in the water as well as they <I>could</I> +enjoy a forbidden gratification. +</P> + +<P> +After they had dressed themselves, they sat a little while with their +caps off, that the warm sun might dry their hair, and thus remove all +evidence of their stolen pleasure. This accomplished, they concluded, +from the position of the sun, that it was time to start for home; and +taking their basket and canes, they commenced their homeward march. +They met with no incident of any moment in returning, except that they +got off their course at one time; but Jerry, who was quite at home in +the woods, soon found where he was, and set himself right again. The +last two miles of their jaunt were the hardest of all, especially to +Oscar, who was more troubled with sore feet and stiff legs than Jerry. +They were both, however, as tired and hungry as need be, when they got +home. +</P> + +<P> +No questions were asked about their going into water. This was +fortunate, for it probably saved them from the additional guilt of +falsehood. They experienced no punishment for their disobedience, +except the consciousness that they had committed a wrong act. To some +boys, that alone would have been no slight punishment; but I fear this +was not the case with Oscar and Jerry. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CLINTON. +</H3> + + +<P> +"Come, Jerry, let's go over to Clinton's this forenoon," said Oscar, +the morning after their excursion to the hermit's hut. +</P> + +<P> +"Agreed," replied Jerry, "we 'll start right away as soon as I can find +my cap. Let me see—-where did I leave it, I wonder?" +</P> + +<P> +"Jerry," said Mrs. Preston, who overheard this conversation, "bring me +in an armfull of wood before you go." +</P> + +<P> +"I 'll get the wood while you 're looking for your cap," said Oscar, +and he started for the wood-house. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar almost repented of his offer when he discover ed that there was +no wood split. However, he took the axe and split a few logs, and +carried them into the kitchen. Jerry had not yet found his cap, though +he had searched all over the house for it. He began to suspect some +one had played a trick upon him by hiding his cap, and when Emily +laughed at his impatience, he concluded she was the guilty one. In +vain she protested that she had not seen the missing cap, and did not +know where it was. He searched every part of the girls' chamber, and +then, in his vexation, he pulled Emily's bonnet from off her head, and +tossed it out of the window into an apple-tree, in the branches of +which it lodged. +</P> + +<P> +It was now Emily's turn to fly into a pet, and she availed herself of +the opportunity. Running to her mother, she reported what Jerry had +done, setting off his foolish conduct in the worst possible light. +Jerry soon made his appearance in the kitchen, and retorted upon his +sister by charging her with having hid his cap. Mrs. Preston tried to +settle the difficulty by directing Jerry to get Emily's bonnet out of +the tree, and ordering Emily to tell Jerry where his cap was, if she +knew; but Emily protested she knew nothing about the cap, and her +brother did not seem inclined to obey his portion of the decree, while +his sister failed to comply with hers. The quarrel was thus becoming +more and more complicated, when Oscar suddenly entered the room with +the lost cap in his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Here's your cap, Jerry," he said; "I found it just where you left it +last night, out in the barn. Don't you remember, you threw it at the +cat to scare her?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, so I did, and I forgot to pick it up again," said Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +"There, do you believe me now?" said Emily, with an air of triumph. +</P> + +<P> +Jerry did not stop to reply; but, going into the garden, he climbed the +apple-tree, and tossed the bonnet down to Emily. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I 'm ready to start, just as soon as I 've had a drink of +buttermilk," said Jerry to Oscar; "come into the buttery and get some, +won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +There was only one bowl-full of buttermilk left from the morning's +churning, but Mrs. Preston told the boys they might have that. Jerry +proposed that they should "go snacks," and gave the bowl to Oscar that +he might drink his share first. The latter took one mouthful, but +quickly spit it out, and puckered his face into all sorts of shapes. +</P> + +<P> +"Ugh!" he exclaimed, "you don't call that sour stuff good, do you?" and +he handed the bowl back to Jerry, with a look that would have soured +the buttermilk, if it had not already undergone that process. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as Jerry could get over laughing at his cousin's grimaces, he +swallowed the contents of the bowl, and then smacking his lips, said: +</P> + +<P> +"There, don't you think I like it? You just drink it a few times, and +then see if you don't like it, too. I could drink a quart of it now if +I had it." +</P> + +<P> +"You may have it, for all me; I don't want any more of it," replied +Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Jerry, have the hens been attended to?" inquired Mrs. Preston, as the +boys were about starting from home. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know—I have n't fed them," replied Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +"You ought to know whether they are seen to or not; it's your business +to take care of them," said his mother. "Don't you go off this morning +till you have fed them. You ought to have done it an hour ago." +</P> + +<P> +The care of the fowls had been committed to Jerry, but he did not feel +much interest in them, and needed to be reminded of his duty pretty +often. His negligence had been more marked than ever since Oscar's +arrival, and more than once the hens had been without food and water +nearly a whole day because he forgot to attend to them. Jerry now went +back, in obedience to his mother, and gave the fowls their usual +allowance of corn, and a vessel of fresh water. He also looked into +the nests to see if there were any new-laid eggs; and he was not a +little surprised to find in one of them a small billet, neatly folded +up, and addressed, "<I>To Master Jerry</I>." He looked at it a moment, and +tried to imagine what it could be; then he opened it, and read the +following, which was neatly written with a pencil: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"THE HENROOST, June 12th. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"MASTER JERRY:" +</P> + +<P> +"I have determined to write you a few words in behalf of my dear +suffering family. The sun is scorching hot, and yet we have not got a +drop of water to save us from parching up. My poor biddies have been +walking back and forth all day, panting for water, and calling for it +as plainly as they could speak; but all in vain. We have received our +food at very irregular times, too, and sometimes we have had to keep +fast nearly all day. If I were the only sufferer, I would say nothing +about it; but I cannot bear to see my poor flock dying by inches in +this way. Do take pity on us, and see that we have plenty of corn and +water hereafter. Some of my family, who pride themselves on being good +layers, complain that since you have kept us shut up in such narrow +quarters they cannot find anything to make their egg-shells of. Now, +if you would give us some old burnt bones, pounded up fine, or a little +lime, once in awhile, I do not think you would lose anything by it. +And as you will not let us go out to scratch for ourselves, what is the +reason that you cannot dig us a few worms occasionally? It would be a +great treat to us. I hope you will heed my suggestions. If you do +not, I can assure you of two things: you won't have many eggs this +summer; and fat chickens will be a scarce article in this neighborhood +next Thanksgiving time. But Mrs. Yellowneck has just laid an egg, and +I must help her cackle over it; so I will write nothing more at +present, but sign myself +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"Your faithful, but afflicted, +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"SHANGHAE ROOSTER." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Before Jerry had finished reading this mysterious letter, Oscar, who +wondered at his long absence, went to see what the matter was, and +found his cousin deeply absorbed in the document. After Jerry had read +it, he handed it to Oscar, telling him where he found it. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that is queer," said Oscar, after he had read it. "Who do you +suppose wrote it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know where it came from well enough," said Jerry; "keep dark—don't +say anything about it," he added, as he put the letter in his pocket. +Then stepping to the kitchen-window, he inquired, "Mother, was Clinton +over here yesterday?" +</P> + +<P> +"I believe he was," replied Mrs. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"That accounts for it," said Jerry to Oscar; "that letter sounds just +like Clinton. I knew he wrote it just as soon as I saw it." +</P> + +<P> +"But can he write as well as that?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he 's a very good writer," replied Jerry. "He ought to be, for +he has to get a lesson every day, just as though he went to school, and +recite to his mother in the evening. I wish I knew as much as he does, +but I should n't want to study so hard." +</P> + +<P> +They had now started on their way to Clinton's. The Shanghae letter +continued to be the topic of remark for some time. It was finally +concluded that they should say nothing to Clinton about it. To tell +the truth, Jerry felt a little mortified at the deserved rebuke he had +received, and he thought the easiest way to get over it would be, to +pretend that the letter had never reached its destination. +</P> + +<P> +Clinton Davenport, the suspected author of this letter, lived in the +nearest house to Mr. Preston's. The house is marked 1, on the map of +Brookdale. He was three or four months younger than Jerry, and, like +him, was an only son. They had been intimate playmates from early +childhood, though their tastes and dispositions were very different. +Clinton was an industrious boy. He liked to work, and took an interest +in all his father's plans and labors. He was an ingenious boy, too; +and, in addition to his other commendable traits, he was a good scholar. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar had seen Clinton once or twice, at Jerry's house, but this was +his first visit to him. They soon came in the sight of the house. It +was a neat, but plain cottage, situated near the foot of a hill. There +were several noble oaks around it, and fruit trees in the rear. +Luxuriant vines were trained around and over the front door. A large +and substantial barn stood a little one side, and back from the road, +with its great doors swung open. On a tall pole, behind the house, +there was a complete miniature of the cottage, which appeared to be +occupied by a family of birds, who were constantly flying back and +forth. This pretty birdhouse Clinton had made with his own hands the +previous winter. +</P> + +<P> +When Oscar and Jerry reached the house, they saw Clinton doing +something in the orchard, behind the buildings, and walked along +towards him. They found him employed in destroying caterpillars' +nests, in the apple-trees. He had a light ladder, with which he +ascended the trees; and having his hands protected by a pair of old +gloves, he swept down the nests, and destroyed the young caterpillars +by the hundred. +</P> + +<P> +"This is n't very pleasant work," said Clinton, "but it has got to be +done. I've been all over the orchard this morning, and this is the +last tree I 've got to examine. I shall be done in a few minutes, and +then I 'll walk around with you." +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to know where all these caterpillars come from," said +Oscar; "do they come up from the ground?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Clinton. "A miller lays the eggs, the summer before, on +a branch of the tree, and there they stay till about the first of June; +then they hatch out, and build their nest. The nests look something +like tents, don't you see they do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, so they do," said Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"That's the reason they are called tent-caterpillars. There are three +or four hundred of them in every nest. In about a month from now, they +would all turn into millers, if nobody disturbed them, and lay millions +of eggs for next year's crop." +</P> + +<P> +"That 's curious—I 've learnt something new by coming here," said +Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"There, I believe that's all," said Clinton, as he cast his eye over +the tree; "now come and see my turkeys." +</P> + +<P> +Jerry slyly winked at Oscar, and both thought of the Shanghae rooster's +letter; but they said nothing, and followed Clinton to a tree near the +barn, where there was a large, motherly hen, surrounded by her happy +brood. They were young turkeys, but it was all the same to the poor +simple hen. She had set four weeks upon the eggs from which they were +hatched, and no wonder she honestly believed they were her own +children. To confess the truth, they did look so much like chickens, +that a city boy like Oscar would hardly have suspected they were +turkeys, if he had not been told that they were. They were black, and +of about the size of chickens of their age. They had also the sharp, +piping cry of genuine chickens. But their necks were a little longer +than usual, and that was almost the only badge of their turkeyhood. +The hen was confined to the tree by a string, to prevent her roving +off. A barrel turned upon its side, served them for a house at night. +</P> + +<P> +There was another hen, confined under a tree near by, which was the +proud mother of a large brood of chickens. There were about +twenty-five of them, but though they now constituted one brood, they +were hatched by two hens. Clinton said he usually managed to set two +hens together, so that one of them might bring up all the chickens, +thereby saving some trouble for himself, as well as one hen's time, +which was of some value to him. Hens do not seem to have much +knowledge of arithmetic, and biddy was apparently unconscious of any +difference between twelve and five-and-twenty. +</P> + +<P> +A loud and prolonged "Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o" now attracted Oscar to +the hen-yard near by, behind the barn, where the rest of Clinton's +poultry were confined. It was a large enclosure, connected with a +shed, in which the fowls roosted and laid their eggs. Its occupants, +and indeed all the poultry on the place were the exclusive property of +Clinton, and he took the entire management of them in his own hands. +He raised the corn they consumed on a patch of ground his father gave +him for the purpose. He sold his eggs, chickens, and turkeys to whom +he pleased, and kept a regular account in a book of all his business +transactions. Of course, all the money he made was his own, and he +told Oscar he had nearly seventy-five dollars in the bank, which he had +earned in this way. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see how you do it," said Jerry; "I could n't make anything +that way if I should try. I don't believe our hens more than pay their +way, if they do that." +</P> + +<P> +"If you should manage as I do, I guess you would make something," +replied Clinton. +</P> + +<P> +"No, it isn't my luck," said Jerry; "if I worked ever so hard, I should +n't be any better off for it." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe that," said Clinton; "there 's no luck about it. Any +boy could make out just as well as I have done, if he took the same +trouble. You try it, now, and see." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I shan't try, for I know just as well as I want to, how it would +turn out," replied Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +"How can you know if you never tried it?" inquired Clinton. +</P> + +<P> +Jerry did not answer this question, and perhaps he could not. He +preferred to comfort himself with the foolish plea of the lazy, that he +was not one of "the lucky ones," and it was useless for him to think of +succeeding in anything of that kind. +</P> + +<P> +Clinton did not make the most distant allusion to the Shanghae +Rooster's letter, although Jerry felt sure that he knew all about it. +The latter also avoided all reference to it. Oscar could hardly keep +from introducing the matter, but his cousin's injunction to "keep dark" +prevailed, and he was able to restrain his impatient tongue. +</P> + +<P> +The boys now took a look at the piggery, where they found several fat, +dignified grunters, together with a family of little squealers, who +seemed quite too clean and delicate to occupy such an enclosure. They +then went all over the great barn, which happened to be tenantless, the +cows being at pasture and the oxen and horse off at work. Oscar's +attention was attracted to a scrap cut from a newspaper, which was +pasted upon one of the posts of the horse's stall. It read as follows: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"THE HORSE'S PRAYER.<BR> +<BR> +"Up hill, spare thou me;<BR> +Down hill, take care of thee;<BR> +On level ground, spare me not,<BR> +Nor give me water when I 'm hot."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Clinton said he found these lines in a newspaper about the time he +began to drive alone, and he stuck them up upon the stall that he might +not forget them. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo, who is this?" inquired Oscar, as a little curly-haired girl of +six years came tripping into the barn. +</P> + +<P> +The little girl to whom the inquiry was addressed turned a shy and +roguish look towards the strange boy, and then edged along to Clinton, +and nestled her little hand in his. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't you tell him who you are?" inquired Clinton. "He came all the +way from Boston, where cousin Ettie and cousin Willie live. He 's +Jerry's cousin, and little Mary Preston's cousin. Now you'll tell him +what your name is, won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Annie Davenport—that's my name," she replied, in her artless, winning +way. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you're Clinton's sister, are you?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and he 's my brother," she quickly added, with a proud look that +greatly amused the boys. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you say you have a cousin Willie in Boston, Clinton?" continued +Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Willie Davenport," replied Clinton. +</P> + +<P> +"I know him—he's about your size, is n't he? and his father is a +lawyer?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's him—why, I want to know if you know him?" +</P> + +<P> +"O yes; he goes to our school. The boys have nicknamed him Whistler, +because he whistles so much; but he 's a real clever fellow, for all +that. My brother Ralph is quite intimate with him. It's strange that +I never knew before that he had relations down here," added Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know his sister, Ettie?" inquired Clinton. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I never saw her," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Come into the house with me,—I must tell mother we 've heard from +Boston," said Clinton. +</P> + +<P> +They all entered the house, and Mrs. Davenport was soon informed of the +pleasant discovery they had made, and had many questions to ask +concerning her Boston friends. Oscar seemed to become at once an old +acquaintance. The fact that he was a schoolmate of Willie gave him a +direct passport to the good graces of all the family. When Oscar +called to mind his peculiar relations towards Willie, this unlooked-for +friendship was not particularly agreeable to him; for he was not, and +never had been, on very friendly terms with Clinton's cousin. This, +however, was more than he dared say to Clinton, and so he concealed his +dislike of Willie as well as he could. +</P> + +<P> +After sitting in the house a little while, Clinton invited Oscar and +Jerry into the "shop," which was a room back of the kitchen, where Mr. +Davenport kept a variety of carpenter's tools. Here, in cold and +stormy weather, Clinton's father mended his broken tools and +implements, and performed such other jobs as were required. Clinton, +too, spent many odd moments at the work-bench, and patient practice had +made him quite a neat and skilful workman. He showed the boys several +boxes, a pine table, and a cricket, made entirely by his own hands, +which would have done no discredit to a regular carpenter. +</P> + +<P> +After remaining an hour or two with Clinton, Oscar and Jerry started +for home, well pleased with their visit. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LETTER. +</H3> + + +<P> +"Oscar, you have n't written home since you came down here, have you?" +inquired Mr. Preston one morning at the breakfast table. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you ought to write," added Mr. Preston; "your mother told you +to, and I suppose she has been looking for a letter every day for a +week or more. It's over a fortnight since you left home, and your +folks will feel anxious about you, if they don't hear from you soon. +You 'd better write a letter to them this morning, before you do +anything else, and then it will be out of the way. I shall either go +or send over to the post-office to-day, and the letter will start for +Boston to-morrow morning, and get there the next day." +</P> + +<P> +"O dear, I hate to write," said Oscar. "Why can't you write to mother, +aunt, and tell her how I am?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, no," said Mr. Preston, "that won't do. You promised your mother +that you would write yourself, and she 'll expect to hear from you, and +not from somebody else. Your aunt can write, if she chooses, but you +must write too. I 'll give you a pen and some paper and ink after +breakfast, and you can write just a much as you please." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess it won't be much—I don't know how to write a letter," replied +Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"A boy of your age not know how to write a letter—and been all your +lifetime to such grand schools as they have in Boston, too! I don't +believe that," said Mr. Preston, shaking his head. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall have to go and see the Shanghae Rooster," said Oscar, looking +at Jerry very knowingly. +</P> + +<P> +Jerry laughed at this allusion, but the others did not appear to +understand its meaning. It was evident that they were innocent of all +knowledge of the mysterious letter; and as Jerry wished them to remain +so, he adroitly turned the remark by replying: +</P> + +<P> +"No you won't—father has got plenty of steel pens." +</P> + +<P> +After breakfast, Mr. Preston told Oscar to follow him. They went up +stairs, and Mr. P. took a key from his pocket, and unlocked the door of +what was known by the name of "the private room." It was a very small +apartment, and was originally designed for a closet or store-room; but +Mr. Preston now used it as a sort of office. Here he kept his business +papers, and here he did what little writing he had to do. There was +one window in the room, which looked out upon the garden in the rear of +the house. The furniture consisted of a chair, a small portable desk, +placed upon a table, an old map of the State of Maine, a dictionary, +almanac, and several other odd volumes and pamphlets. +</P> + +<P> +"There," said Mr. Preston, "you may sit right down to my desk, and +write as long as you please, if you won't disturb my papers. There are +paper, ink, pens, and wafers—you can use what you want. When you get +done, lock the door, and give the key to your aunt." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar found there was no backing out from a letter this time; so he sat +down, and tried to make up his mind to face the dreaded duty. He heard +his uncle tell the children not to interrupt him, till he had finished +his letter; and when Mr. Preston and his man James went off to work, +Jerry accompanied them. Oscar was thus left to himself. After +thinking about the matter a few moments, he dipped his pen in the +ink-stand, and, having consulted the almanac, wrote the proper date for +the letter, together with the address, "Dear Mother." Here he came +suddenly to a stand. He was at a loss how to commence. He sat +uneasily in his chair, now nibbling the end of the pen-holder, and now +running his fingers slowly through his hair, as if to coax out the +thoughts he wished to express. +</P> + +<P> +At length he got started, and wrote several lines without stopping. +Now he thought he should go ahead without further trouble; but he soon +found himself again brought to a dead halt. He began to scribble and +draw rude figures upon a piece of waste paper, hoping the next +sentence, in continuance of his letter, would soon pop into his head; +but instead of anything popping in, his ideas began to pop out, so that +he almost forgot the letter, amid the unmeaning flourishes his pen was +making. Then, suddenly thinking of the scarcely-commenced task before +him, he read and re-read the few lines he had written, but could not +determine what to say next. Lifting up the lid of the desk, he found a +variety of bills, receipts, accounts and letters scattered about. +Disregarding the injunction of his uncle, and in violation of one of +the plainest rules of good breeding, he concluded to open one of the +letters, and see if he could not gain some hint from it, to aid him in +completing his own. The letter he opened proved to be a short business +message, and it was written in such a difficult hand, that he could not +read half the words. He then looked into several other letters, but +none of them afforded him any aid. +</P> + +<P> +After idling away half an hour in this manner, he resumed his letter, +and began to make some progress upon it, when the lively chirping and +twittering of a party of birds in an apple-tree near the window, +attracted his attention. He laid down his pen, and watched their +movements awhile. They were swallows; and from their actions, Oscar +soon discovered that the old birds were teaching their little ones how +to fly. There were several nests of these swallows, under the rafters +of Mr. Preston's barn; and as they had recently had accessions to their +families, Oscar concluded this must be the first appearance of the +new-comers in public. The old birds fluttered back and forth, +twittering and talking to the young ones all the while, and trying to +entice them to commit themselves again to their wings. The little +fearful things looked doubtingly, first one way and then another, as +though they would gladly launch away upon their destined element, if +they were only sure they should not tumble ingloriously to the ground. +The clamor of the old ones increased every moment. They called and +coaxed more earnestly, and fluttered more impatiently, until at length +the young birds worked up their courage to the requisite point, and +away the whole flock darted, towards the barn. +</P> + +<P> +Now that the swallows were out of his way, Oscar returned to his letter +once more. Had he learned a lesson of self-confidence from the example +of the little swallows, the few minutes he spent in watching their +movements would have been well employed. But instead of his confidence +increasing, he was now almost sick of the sight of the letter, and +began to doubt whether he should ever finish it. While he was +hesitating whether he had better tear it up, or try once more to go on +with it, a sweet childish voice from the garden engaged his attention. +He looked from the window, and saw little Mary sitting down upon the +grass, in a shady spot, with a large book open before her. She was +looking at the engravings in the volume, and was talking very earnestly +to herself, and to the figures in the pictures. +</P> + +<P> +"There is Emily," she was saying, "and there is father with a shovel; +and this one is me, and that is Jerry, and that's Oscar, carrying a +basket. I guess they 're going to dig potatoes. O, what lots of +houses over the other side of the pond; and there 's one, two, three, +five, ten, eight meeting-houses, too. It must be Boston, I guess, +there are so many houses there. And there's a great boat coming—O +what a smoke it makes!—and it's got wheels, too. Now we'll get right +into it, and go and see Uncle Henry and all the folks. Stop, stop, you +boat! Now that's too bad—it goes by, and we can't go to Boston." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-261"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-261.jpg" ALT="Mary and the Picture-Book." BORDER="2" WIDTH="143" HEIGHT="161"> +<H4> +[Illustration: Mary and the Picture-Book.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Thus little Mary continued to talk to the pictures and to herself, +unconscious that any one was listening to her. She was a pretty child, +and, all unknown to herself, she made almost as attractive a picture as +any in her book, with her fair face, her flowing hair, and her clean +dress, set off by the green grass and climbing vines around her. Oscar +sat listening to her childish prattle for some time, when the striking +of the kitchen clock reminded him that he had been seated at the desk +an hour, and had not yet written a dozen lines. He was about to tear +up the sheet of paper over which he had sat (but not labored) so long, +and give up the attempt. Then he thought of his promise to write, and +how ashamed he should feel to have his uncle's folks know that he had +tried a whole hour, and could not write a letter to his own mother. He +finally determined to make one more attempt. +</P> + +<P> +Finding that the sound of Mary's voice disturbed him, Oscar now shut +down the window, and thus cut off all communication with the outer +world, except by the eye. He soon got under way again with his letter, +and, to his own surprise, he went along quite easily and with +considerable rapidity. The reason of this was, he was now really in +earnest, and had given his mind wholly to the letter. Before, his +thoughts were flitting from one trifle to another; now they were +directed to the object he wished to accomplish. Before the clock +struck the next hour, the letter was finished, sealed, and directed. +It was quite a respectable sort of a letter, too. When he had got +through, Oscar was himself surprised to find that he could write so +good an epistle. The spelling, punctuation, and penmanship might have +been improved, but in other respects the letter was creditable to him. +I will print it as he intended it should read, and not precisely as he +wrote it: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"BROOKDALE, June 15, 185—. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"DEAR MOTHER: +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose you are looking for a letter from me, and I meant to have +written before this, but somehow I have neglected it. I got here safe +the next day after I left home. We stopped one night in Portland, and +put up at the —— Hotel. The next day we rode in the cars all the +forenoon, and in the stage all the afternoon. The stage does not go +within five miles of uncle's, but Jerry went over with a horse and +wagon to get us. I like Brookdale first-rate. It is a real +countryfied place, but I like it all the better for that. The nearest +house to uncle's is half a mile off; and, by the way, tell Ralph that a +cousin of Whistler's lives there. His name is Clinton Davenport. I +have got acquainted with him, and like him very much. I like Jerry, +too. We have capital times together. All the boys here are rather +'green,' as we say in Boston; and you would laugh at the ideas they +have of city things; but I suppose they think I am green about country +things, and so we are square. I have lots of rides, and good long +walks, too. A few days ago, Jerry and I walked four or five miles +through the woods and pastures, to an old hut where a hermit used to +live. They say he was a miser, and buried his money there, and people +have dug for it, but nobody has found it. We carried our provisions, +and made a fire, and ate dinner there. There is a fine pond close by, +where we got our water to drink. +</P> + +<P> +"There are lots of birds here. We are going to set some snares in the +woods, and catch some. There are some swallows' nests in uncle's barn, +just over the door. You can look right up into them, and see the +birds. They are quite tame. They are just making their young ones +learn how to fly. It is real amusing to see them. +</P> + +<P> +"Uncle has quite a large farm. I forget how many acres he told me +there was, but it is a good many. They have cows, and pigs, and hens, +and live in real country style. I have learned how to make butter, but +I have not learned to like buttermilk yet. I can't bear it, but all +the other folks think it is a great treat. The schools don't keep here +but three months in the winter, so Jerry and I are together about all +the time. We sleep together, too. I almost forgot to tell you that I +have got quite strong and hearty again. My cough is gone, and aunt +says I look a good deal better than I did when I came here. I want to +hear from home, but I hope you won't send for me to go back just yet. +But I am tired of writing, and must close up my letter. Excuse errors +and bad writing. Give my love to all the family, including Tiger. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"Your affectionate son, +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"OSCAR." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Oscar felt quite relieved when his letter was ready for the +post-office. Having locked up the little room, he carried the key to +his aunt. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you written your letter?" inquired Mrs. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, ma'am," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Where is it? You 're going to let me read it, aint you?" inquired +Emily. +</P> + +<P> +"There it is," said Oscar, taking the letter from his jacket pocket; +"but I guess you won't read it, miss." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, do let me read it," persisted Emily, who really had an undue +proportion of inquisitiveness in her nature. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I can't; it's sealed up," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Then tell me what you wrote, won't you?" continued Emily. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, you silly child, what business is it to you what he wrote?" said +her mother. "Don't ask any more such foolish questions; Oscar will +think you have n't got common sense if you do." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you write anything about me?" continued Emily, in a lower tone. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you hear me, Emily?" inquired Mrs. Preston, in a sharper tone. +</P> + +<P> +"O no, I did n't write much," said Oscar, in reply to Emily; "there's +nothing in the letter that you would care about seeing." +</P> + +<P> +"I did n't know you were going to seal up the letter so soon. I wanted +to send a message to Alice and Ella," continued Emily. +</P> + +<P> +"You are too late now," replied Oscar; "but I 'll give you a chance +next time. What message do you want to send?" +</P> + +<P> +"You must n't be so inquisitive," said Emily, with a laugh; "just as +though I were going to tell you, when you would n't let me read the +letter!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I can tell you one thing,—I don't want to know," replied Oscar. +"Aunt Eliza, do you know where Jerry is?" +</P> + +<P> +"He has gone with his father down to the meadow lot," replied Mrs. +Preston. "I guess they will be back before a great while." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar set out for the "meadow lot," which was a quarter of a mile from +the house, on the other side of the river. He had not gone far, +however, when he met Mr. Preston and Jerry returning. +</P> + +<P> +"I 've written my letter, uncle, and it's all ready to go to the +post-office," said Oscar; "can't Jerry and I carry it over?" +</P> + +<P> +"I 'll see about that this afternoon," said Mr. Preston; "I 've got +something else for Jerry to do now." +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm going over to the old wood-lot to get a load of mulching," said +Jerry to Oscar; "and you can go too, if you want to." +</P> + +<P> +"Mulching—what is that?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"It's stuff that they put around young trees, to keep the roots from +drying up in summer," replied Jerry. "You know all those small apple +and pear trees back of the barn? well, it's to put around them." +</P> + +<P> +Having reached the house, the boys ate some luncheon, and then +proceeded to tackle Billy into the hay-cart. After Mr. Preston had +given Jerry sundry cautions and directions, which the latter seemed to +think quite unnecessary, the boys hopped into the cart, and drove off +towards the woods. Mr. Preston owned several tracts of woodland in +Brookdale. The lot to which the boys were going, was called the "old" +one, because the wood had all been cut off once, and it was now covered +with a young growth, not large enough for firewood. It was but a short +distance from the house, and the boys soon reached the spot, and +commenced operations. They were each provided with large jack-knives, +and with these they proceeded to lop off the young and tender ends of +the birches, which trees were quite abundant in that spot; for birches +are very apt to spring up after a pine forest has been cleared away. +Many of the trees were yet so small, that the boys did not have to +climb up to reach the branches. +</P> + +<P> +Though all this was really work, it seemed so much like play to Jerry +and Oscar, that they actually <I>forgot to be lazy</I>. The consequence +was, the job was done before they thought of it. Gathering up the +heaps of small twigs scattered around them, they threw them into the +cart, and found they had quite a respectable load; respectable in bulk +at least, though not a very heavy burden for Billy. Taking their seats +upon the top of the mulching, which was almost as soft as a load of +hay, they drove back to the barn, and alighted. Mr. Preston now +appeared, and led the horse into the orchard, where, with the aid of +the boys, he scattered the birch twigs around the young trees, so as to +protect their roots from the fierce heat of the sun. There was not +enough for all the trees, but he told them they need not get any more +at that time. +</P> + +<P> +After dinner, Mr. Preston said he should have to go over to the +Cross-Roads himself, as he wanted to see a man who lived there; but he +told Oscar he might go with him, if he wished. Oscar accepted the +invitation, and they were soon on their way, leaving Jerry not a little +disappointed that he could not go with them. Oscar handed his letter +to the postmaster, who marked it with the stamp of the office, and +deposited it in the mail-bag, Mr. Preston stopped to purchase a few +articles in the shop where the post-office was kept. When he was ready +to start, he inquired: +</P> + +<P> +"Have you mailed your letter, and paid your postage, Oscar?" +</P> + +<P> +"I 've mailed it, but I did n't pay the postage," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"That was n't right," said his uncle; "when you mail a letter to a +friend, you should always pay the postage. If you pay it now, in +advance, it will be only three cents; but if the postage is not paid +till the letter is delivered, it will be five cents." +</P> + +<P> +"I did n't think of that," said Oscar; "I wonder if it is too late to +pay it now? I 'll go and see." +</P> + +<P> +On making known his request, the postmaster drew forth the letter from +the bag, and imprinted another stamp upon it. Oscar paid the three +cents, and departed, with his uncle. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE RECALL. +</H3> + + +<P> +Oscar was bent upon going a-gunning. He had allowed his mind to dwell +upon the idea, until it seemed to him as though he could no longer +resist the impulse to play the sportsman, without a sacrifice of his +happiness. His uncle, it is true, had tried to dissuade him from it, +and had positively refused to lend him his gun. But there were other +guns in Brookdale, and everybody was not so particular as Mr. Preston +about trusting boys with fire-arms. Why could n't he borrow a gun of +somebody else? So he asked himself; and by-and-bye he put the same +question to Jerry. Jerry heartily entered into the proposal. He +thought Jim Oakley would lend him a gun. At any rate, he was not +afraid to ask him. Jim was a famous gunner, in that region. He had +several fowling-pieces; and if he would not lend them his best rifle, +it was not likely that he would refuse them one of his old guns. So +Jerry reasoned, and Oscar fully agreed with him. They went to see Jim, +that very afternoon, and by dint of teasing, they got the gun, together +with a small quantity of powder and shot. Thus armed, they set out for +the woods, in quest of game. +</P> + +<P> +They had been in the woods but a short time, and had not yet shot +anything, though they had fired several charges, when a dispute arose +between them about the gun. Jerry claimed a right to it half the time, +on the ground that he had borrowed it. Oscar was willing that he +should use the gun occasionally, but he resisted his claim to it half +the time. He contended that the gun was loaned to him, and besides, he +had agreed to pay the owner for all the ammunition they used. The +dispute waxed warmer and warmer. Oscar was obstinate, and Jerry grew +sulky. It was the first serious difficulty that had arisen between +them. Neither of them, as yet, knew the other's temper, but now they +were in a fair way of finding each other out. It was the clashing of +two strong wills. Oscar soon saw that their sport was at an end for +that day, and throwing down the gun and powder flask upon the grass, he +said, in an angry tone: +</P> + +<P> +"There, take the old thing, and do what you please with it; and when +you carry it back, see that you pay for the powder, for I won't." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, he turned upon his heel and walked off. He had not gone far +when Jerry, who had picked up the gun, called out: +</P> + +<P> +"Here! you 've broken the trigger, throwing it down so. You may carry +it back yourself now, I won't." +</P> + +<P> +"I shan't carry it back," replied Oscar; "you say he lent it to you, +and you may take care of it now." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar went back to his uncle's, leaving Jerry and the gun to keep each +other company. Not feeling in a very pleasant mood, Oscar did not go +into the house, but loitered around the barn, avoiding the family as +much as he could. Pretty soon he saw Clinton driving up, and he +stepped inside of the barn, as he did not care about speaking with him. +Clinton stopped however, when opposite to the barn, and called to him. +</P> + +<P> +"What would you give for a letter from home?" said Clinton, when Oscar +made his appearance. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know—why, have you got one for me?" inquired Oscar, with +remarkable coolness. +</P> + +<P> +"That's for you, I guess," said Clinton, handing him a letter. "I 've +been over to the post-office, and as I happened to see a letter +directed to you, I thought I would take it along with me." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right, I'm glad you did," said Oscar, taking the letter. "Much +obliged to you for your trouble," he added, as Clinton drove off. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar now went into the barn, and, seating himself upon a stool, opened +and read his letter. It was from his mother. She acknowledged the +receipt of his letter, and expressed much gratification at hearing that +he was well and enjoying himself. His father, she wrote, thought he +had better return home, and resume his place at school, from which he +had been absent nearly three months. The term would close in about a +month, and he wanted Oscar to be prepared to enter the High School at +that time. Then followed various little messages from the children, +directions about his journey home, &c. In closing, she requested him +to return that week, that he might be ready to go to school the +following Monday. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar was not very much pleased with the contents of the letter. He +did not expect to be recalled so suddenly. He had hoped that, at any +rate, he should not be sent to school again that term. But, his plans +and hopes were all overturned by this letter. He went into the house, +and told the news to his aunt, who expressed regret that he was to +leave so soon. +</P> + +<P> +By-and-bye Jerry came home, but he brought the same scowl upon his face +that Oscar left with him up in the woods. Oscar, too, was as "stuffy" +as ever. No words passed between the two, and each seemed bent upon +giving the other a wide berth. At the supper table, something was said +about Oscar's letter, and his going home; but Jerry was too obstinate +to ask any questions, and so he remained in tormenting uncertainty in +regard to the matter. Oscar, too, had some curiosity about the gun, +but he did not intend to "speak first," if he never spoke again to his +cousin. +</P> + +<P> +During the whole evening, Oscar and Jerry were at the opposite poles of +the little family circle. When Oscar retired for the night, he found +Jerry not only abed, but asleep, or pretending to be. It was a wonder +that both did not tumble out of bed that night; for each slept upon the +extreme edge of the mattress, as far as possible from the other. +</P> + +<P> +When Oscar awoke in the morning, he found himself alone, Jerry having +quietly arisen and slipped out of the room, without disturbing him. +They did not see each other until they met at the breakfast table. +Here, their sober and quiet demeanor, so unusual with them, soon +attracted notice. +</P> + +<P> +"See how down in the mouth Jerry is!" said Emily. "He looks as though +he had lost all his friends. And Oscar does n't look much better +either, poor fellow!" +</P> + +<P> +Both boys changed color, and looked queerly, but they said nothing. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind, boys," said Mrs. Preston, "you 've got one day more to +enjoy yourselves together. You 'd better make the most of that, while +it lasts, and not worry about the separation till the time comes." +</P> + +<P> +"That's good doctrine," said Mr. Preston; "never borrow trouble, for it +comes fast enough any way. Come, cheer up, Oscar, you have n't gone +yet." +</P> + +<P> +"It's too bad to make me go home so soon—I thought I was going to stay +here a month or two," said Oscar, who was very willing that his unusual +demeanor should be attributed entirely to his summons home. +</P> + +<P> +"You must ask your father to let you come down and spend your +vacation," said Mr. Preston. "I expect to go up to Boston about that +time, and I guess he will let me bring you home with me." +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to come," said Oscar, "but I don't believe father will +let me, it's so far." +</P> + +<P> +"O yes, he will, when he knows what good friends you and Jerry are," +replied Mr. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"Jerry 's crying, as true as I 'm alive!" exclaimed Emily, who had been +watching the workings of her brother's face for several moments, and +thought she saw moisture gathering in his eye. +</P> + +<P> +"No I aint, either!" replied Jerry, in such a prompt and spiteful tone, +and with such a scowl upon his face, that all the others, including +even Oscar, joined in a hearty laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope you feel good-natured," said his mother; "Oscar's going off +seems to have had a queer effect upon you." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care, you 're all picking upon me—it's enough to make anybody +cross," said Jerry, in a surly tone. +</P> + +<P> +"You're mistaken—nobody has picked upon you," replied his mother. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you have, too," responded Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +"Jerry! don't let me hear any more of that—not another word," said Mr. +Preston, sternly. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you 'd better make Emily hold her tongue," said Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +"Hush! do you hear me?" said Mr. Preston, with considerable excitement. +</P> + +<P> +Jerry undertook to mutter something more, when his father jumped up, +and, taking him by the collar, led him to the cellar-door, and told him +to go down and stay until he was sent for. Then, shutting the door, +and turning the button, he resumed his seat at the table, and the +family finished their meal in silence. +</P> + +<P> +Jerry was released from his confinement soon after breakfast; but the +unfortunate affair at the table continued to weigh heavily upon his +mind. Throughout the rest of the day, he kept out of everybody's way, +and said nothing, but looked sour, cross, and wretched. Oscar, too, +felt very unpleasantly. He found it hard work to amuse himself alone. +He was a boy of strong social feelings, and abhorred solitary rambles +and sports. It was a long and dull day, and when he retired to bed at +night, he almost felt glad that it was his last day in Brookdale. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after he had got into bed, Jerry, who had retired before him, +called out: +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar!" +</P> + +<P> +"What?" inquired the other. +</P> + +<P> +There was a long pause, during which Jerry hitched and twisted about, +as if hesitating how to proceed. He at length inquired: +</P> + +<P> +"Are you mad with me?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Oscar, somewhat reluctantly, and in a tone that was +almost equivalent to "yes." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't want you to go off without making up with me," added Jerry; +and as he spoke, his voice trembled, and had it been light enough, +Oscar might have detected something like moisture in those very eyes +that had flashed in anger at Emily in the morning, for reporting the +same thing of them. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm ready to make up with you," replied Oscar, turning over toward +Jerry. +</P> + +<P> +Having thus broken the ice, the constraint and reserve that had existed +between them since the previous day, gradually melted away, and they +were once more on sociable terms, although their intercourse was not +quite so free and unembarrassed as it was before their quarrel. In +fact, they did not properly heal up the difficulty between them, +inasmuch as neither made any confession or apology—a duty that both +should have performed, as they were about equally guilty. Oscar's +first inquiries were concerning the gun. Jerry told him that he +carried it home, and that the owner was quite angry, when he saw the +damage it had sustained, but said nothing about making the boys pay for +it. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning the family arose at an earlier hour than usual, as +Oscar had got to be on his way soon after sunrise. It was decided that +Jerry should drive him over to the Cross-Roads. Accordingly, after a +hasty breakfast, he bade them all good-bye, one by one, and taking a +seat in the wagon with Jerry, started for home. It was delightful, +riding while the birds were yet singing their morning songs, and the +grass was spangled with dew, and the cool air had not felt the hot +breath of the sun; but the separation that was about to take place, and +the unpleasant recollection of their recent quarrel, lessened their +enjoyment of the ride very much. They reached the Cross-Roads nearly +half an hour before the stage-coach came along. At length it drove up +to the post-office, and Oscar, mounting to the top, took a seat behind +the driver. The mail-bag was handed to the driver, and the coach +started again on its way, Oscar bowing his farewell to Jerry, as they +drove off. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-280"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-280.jpg" ALT="The Stage Coach." BORDER="2" WIDTH="249" HEIGHT="307"> +<H4> +[Illustration: The Stage Coach.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Nothing of special interest occurred the forenoon's ride. The coach +reached its destination about eleven o'clock and Oscar had barely time +enough to brush the dust from his clothing, and to obtain a drink of +cold water, when the signal was given for the cars to start, and he +took his seat in the train. His thoughtful aunt had placed a liberal +supply of eatables in the top of his valise, and to that he now had +recourse, for his long ride had given him a sharp appetite. There were +but few passengers in the train when it started, but at almost every +station it received accessions. +</P> + +<P> +On reaching Portland, Oscar found that he had nearly half an hour to +spare, before taking the Boston train; for it was his intention to "go +through" in one day, which his early start enabled him to do. After +treating himself to a few cakes, which he purchased at a refreshment +stand in the depôt, he walked about until it was time to take his seat +in the cars. +</P> + +<P> +The clock struck three, and the train started. One hundred and eleven +miles seemed to Oscar a long distance to travel, at one stretch, +especially after riding all the forenoon; and, indeed, he did begin to +feel quite tired, long before he reached the end of the journey. To +add to his uneasiness, a particle of cinder from the locomotive flew +into his eye, and lodged there so firmly that all his efforts to remove +it were in vain. In a little while, the eye became quite painful, and +he was obliged to keep it closed. A kind-looking gentleman, who sat +near him, noticed his trouble, and offered to assist him in removing +the mote; but it was so small that he could not find it. He advised +Oscar not to rub the inflamed organ, and told him he thought the +moisture of the eye would soon wash out the intruder, if left to +itself. Oscar tried to follow this advice, but the pain and irritation +did not subside, and he closed his eyes, and resigned himself to +darkness. +</P> + +<P> +The nine o'clock bells of Boston were ringing, as Oscar left the depôt +and turned his steps homeward. He hurried along through the familiar +streets, and had just turned the corner from which his home was in +sight, when somebody jumped suddenly from a dark passage-way, and +seized him by the hand. It was Ralph, who had been on the watch for +his brother half an hour, and, concealed himself just as he saw him +approaching. Each gave the other a cordial greeting, and then they +hastened into the house, where Oscar found the rest of the family +waiting to receive him. The general commotion that followed his +arrival, aroused Tiger from the comfortable nap he was taking on a mat, +and on hearing the well-remembered tones of his master's voice, he +sprang toward Oscar, and nearly knocked him over with his +demonstrations of welcome. +</P> + +<P> +So Oscar was at home again; and from the welcome he received, he +learned that there is pleasure in getting back from a journey as well +as in setting out upon one. His inflamed eye soon attracted the notice +of his mother, and she examined it to see if she could detect the cause +of the irritation; but the troublesome atom was invisible. She then +said she would try the eye-stone, and, going to the drawer, she got a +small, smooth, and flat stone, and told Ella to go down into the +kitchen and bring up a little vinegar in a saucer. On putting the +stone into the vinegar, it soon began to move about, as though it were +possessed of life. When it had become sufficiently lively, Mrs. +Preston wiped it dry, and put it between the lid and ball of Oscar's +inflamed eye. After it had remained there a few minutes, he allowed it +to drop into his hand, and on a close-examination, he found that it had +brought with it the offending substance that had caused him so much +pain. It was a little black speck, so small that it was barely +perceptible to the unaided eye. It now being quite late, Mrs. Preston +thought that further inquiries and answers concerning Oscar's visit had +better be deferred till morning, and the family soon retired to their +beds. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +DOWNWARD PROGRESS +</H3> + + +<P> +The next day was Saturday. Oscar was off most of the day with his +comrades, among whom he was quite a lion for the time. During one of +the brief intervals that he was in the house, his mother said some +thing about his going to school on Monday. +</P> + +<P> +"O dear, I don't want to go to school again this term," said Oscar. +"What's the use? Why, it 's only four or five weeks before the term +will be through." +</P> + +<P> +"I know that," replied his mother, "but your father is very anxious +that you should get into the High School, and he thinks you can do it +if you finish up this term." +</P> + +<P> +"I can't do it—I 've got all behindhand with my studies," said Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"O yes, you can if you try," replied his mother. "You might have got +into the High School last year if you had studied a little harder. You +were almost qualified then, and I'm sure you ought to be now. If you +find you are behind your class in your lessons, you must study so much +the harder, and you 'll get up with them by-and-bye." +</P> + +<P> +"But I don't believe it will do me any good to be confined in the +school-room," continued Oscar. "I don't think I'm so strong as I was +before I was sick." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said Mrs. Preston, "when you 're sick you need not go to +school; but I guess there 's no danger of your staying at home for that +reason, at present. You never looked better in your life than you do +now." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar tried his pleas again in the evening with his father, but with +quite as poor success. He saw that it was fully determined that he +should resume his seat at school, and he reluctantly submitted to this +decision. When Monday morning came, he proceeded to school, but found +that his old desk was in possession of another boy. The head teacher +in Oscar's department soon appeared, and seemed quite glad to see him +once more. He appointed Oscar a new seat, and told him he hoped he +would study so diligently as to make up for lost time. +</P> + +<P> +The hopes of Oscar's teacher and parents were doomed to disappointment. +It was soon evident that he cared less about his lessons than ever. He +was behind his class, and instead of redoubling his efforts to get up +with them, he became discouraged and indifferent. His recitations were +seldom perfect, and often they were utter failures. His teachers +coaxed, and encouraged, and ridiculed, and frowned, and punished, all +in vain. One day, after Oscar had blundered worse than usual, the +teacher who was hearing the recitation said to him, in a despairing +tone: +</P> + +<P> +"You remind me, Oscar, of what one of the old Roman emperors said to an +archer who shot his arrows a whole day, and never once hit the mark. +He told him he had a most wonderful talent for missing. So I must say +of you—you 've got the greatest talent for missing of any boy I know." +</P> + +<P> +Seeing a smile on the faces of Oscar's classmates, he added: +</P> + +<P> +"But this is too sober a matter to make light of. If you could not get +your lessons, it would be a different matter; but I know, and you know, +that this is not the trouble. You are quick enough to learn and to +understand, when you have a mind to be. If you would only try to get +your lessons as hard as the other boys do, you would n't be at the foot +of the class a great while. If you keep on in this way, you will see +your folly as plainly as I see it now, before you are many years older." +</P> + +<P> +This admonition had little effect upon Oscar. When school was +dismissed, a few minutes after, he rushed out with as light a step as +any of his comrades, and his gay laugh was heard as soon as he reached +the entry. In the general scramble for caps, one had fallen from its +peg, and instead of replacing it, two or three of the boys were making +a football of it. Oscar joined the sport, and gave the cap a kick that +sent it part of the way down stairs. A moment after, he met Willie +Davenport returning with it. +</P> + +<P> +"Halloo, Whistler, that is n't your cap, is it?" inquired Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"No, but it's <I>somebody's</I>," said the good-hearted boy, as he brushed +off the dust, and put the lining back into its place. He was about +hanging it up, when Benny Wright appeared, and claimed it as his +property. +</P> + +<P> +Had Oscar known that the cap was Benny's, he would not have made a +foot-ball of it. He remembered the kind epistle he received, when +sick, and the amusement it afforded him, when amusements were scarce. +Since his recovery, he had treated Benny with much more consideration +than before, and quite a kindly feeling had sprung up between them. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar's inattention to his studies was not his only fault at school. +His general behavior was worse than it had ever been before. Vexed +that he was compelled to return to school so near the expiration of the +term, it seemed as though he was determined to make as little +improvement in his studies, and as much trouble for his teachers, as he +could. He not only idled away his own time, but he disturbed other +boys who were disposed to study. He was repeatedly reproved and +punished, but reproof and punishment did no good; on the contrary, they +seemed rather to make him worse. The teachers at length gave him up as +incorrigible, and consoled themselves with the thought that his +connection with the school would cease in two or three weeks, at which +time his class would graduate. They still aimed to keep him in check, +during school hours, but they ceased spending their time and breath in +trying to bring about a reformation in his conduct. +</P> + +<P> +One day as the scholars were engaged in writing, the master, while +passing along among the boys, and inspecting their writing-books, +noticed that somebody had been spitting what appeared to be tobacco +juice, near Oscar's seat. This was a violation of the rules of the +school, and the teacher concluded not to let it pass unnoticed. Having +no doubt, from several circumstances, that Oscar was the offender, he +said to him: +</P> + +<P> +"Oscar, what are you chewing tobacco in school for, and spitting the +juice on the floor?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have n't chewed any tobacco this afternoon," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it, then, that you have been spitting upon the floor?" +inquired the teacher. +</P> + +<P> +"I have n't spit upon the floor," replied Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"Who did that?" continued the teacher, pointing to the puddle upon the +floor. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," said Oscar; "it was there when I took my seat." +</P> + +<P> +It was possible that Oscar told the truth, but the teacher had his +doubts. He might perhaps, have settled the matter at once by putting a +question to one or two of the boys who sat near the supposed offender +but as he always avoided the system of making one boy inform against +another, when he could properly do so, he took another course. He told +Oscar, if he had any tobacco in his mouth, or anywhere about his +person, to give it up to him. Oscar declared that he had none. +</P> + +<P> +"Let me look into your mouth," said the teacher. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar had a small piece of the weed in his mouth, which he tucked +behind his upper lip with his tongue, and then opened his mouth. The +teacher of course saw nothing but what belonged there. He <I>smelt</I> +something, however, that left him no longer in doubt that Oscar had +told a falsehood. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't see your cud, but I can smell it plain enough," said the +master; "and I 'll examine your pockets, if you please." +</P> + +<P> +Oscar was far from pleased with this proposition, and tried to prevent +its being carried into effect. The master, however, easily overcame +the difficulties he put in the way, and running his hand into the +pocket which he seemed most anxious to defend, brought forth a piece of +tobacco large enough to kill a horse! +</P> + +<P> +"What is that?" he inquired, holding the contraband article before +Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar neither looked at it nor made any reply. +</P> + +<P> +"And you are the boy who said a moment ago that you had no tobacco +about you," continued the master "I declare I don't know what to do +with you. I have said and done all that I can to make a better boy of +you, and now I shall report this matter to your father, and let him +settle it with you. But I want you to remember one thing. When you +tell me a lie, you break God's law, and not mine; and you can't settle +the matter in full with me, or any other human being." +</P> + +<P> +The teacher then threw the piece of tobacco out of the open window, and +taking Oscar's writing-book, told him he would set a new copy for him. +He soon returned, with the following line written upon the top of a +clean page: +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Lying lips are abomination to the Lord.</I>" +</P> + +<P> +As Oscar wrote this fearful sentence over and over again, he could not +fully escape the force of its meaning. It reminded him of his feelings +during his recent illness, when at times the terrible thought that his +sickness might possibly be unto death intruded upon his mind. But +thoughts of God, and death, and a future world, were alike unpleasant +to him, and he banished them as speedily as possible. +</P> + +<P> +During the afternoon, the principal of the school wrote a letter to Mr. +Preston, informing him of Oscar's indolence and bad conduct, and +referring particularly to the incident that had just occurred. By way +of offset to the complaint, he spoke in very high terms of Ralph, who +attended the same school, but was in another department and another +room. He sent the letter by Ralph, but told him not to let Oscar know +anything about it. Ralph had some suspicions of the nature of the +letter, but he did his errand faithfully, going directly from school to +his father's store. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Preston was at first very much irritated by the teacher's +complaints of Oscar's misconduct; and could he have taken the culprit +in hand at the time, he would probably have handled him rather roughly. +But several days elapsed before he found it convenient to talk with +Oscar about the matter, and by this time his passion had subsided into +anxiety and sorrow. He showed Oscar the letter, in which he, the +eldest son, was severely censured, and his little brother was so highly +commended. With tears in his eyes, he warned him of the dangers before +him, and entreated him to change his course. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar had never seen his father exhibit so much emotion before. +Usually, on such occasions, he was stern, if not passionate; more ready +to threaten and punish than to appeal to the heart and conscience. +Now, all this was changed, and sorrow seemed to have taken the place of +anger. Oscar was somewhat affected by this unusual manifestation of +parental anxiety. He was pretty well hardened against scoldings and +threatenings, but he did not know how to meet this new form of rebuke. +He tried to conceal his feelings, however, and preserved a sullen +silence throughout the interview. +</P> + +<P> +This affair made no abiding impression upon Oscar. In a day or two it +was forgotten, and the slight compunctions he felt had entirely +disappeared. But the schoolmaster's complaint was soon followed by +another that was quite as unpleasant. As Mrs. Preston was sitting at +her sewing, one day, the door suddenly opened, and in came Bridget, the +servant girl, with a face as red as rage and a hot fire could make it. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be goin' off this night, ma'am—I'll pack me chist, and not stop +here any longer at all," said Bridget, in a tone that betokened her +anger. +</P> + +<P> +"Going off—what do you mean? You don't say you 're going to leave us +so suddenly, Biddy?" inquired Mrs. Preston, with surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that I be," replied Bridget, very decidedly; "I 'll not be after +staying in the same house with that big, ugly b'y, another day." +</P> + +<P> +"Who, Oscar? What has he done now?" inquired Mrs. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"He's did nothing but bother the life out o' me ivery day since he coom +back, that's jist all he 's did," replied Biddy. "Jist now, ma'am, he +slopped over a hull basin o' dirty whater right on to the clane floor, +and thin laffed at me, and sassed me, and called me, all sorts o' bad +names—the little sass-box! It's not the like o' Bridget Mullikin that +'ll put up with his dirty impidence another day. I 'd like to live +with ye, ma'am, and Mister Pristen, good, nice man that he is but I +can't stop to be trated like a dog by that sassy b'y." +</P> + +<P> +"I 'll go and see what he has been about," said Mrs. Preston, laying +down her work. +</P> + +<P> +When they reached the kitchen, Oscar was not to be found. There was +the puddle of dirty water upon the floor, however, and so far Bridget's +story was corroborated. As she proceeded to wipe it up, she continued +to speak in not very complimentary terms of the "ugly b'y," as she +delighted to call Oscar. It was in vain that Mrs. Preston attempted to +soothe her ruffled spirits. She refused to be comforted, and insisted +upon taking her departure from the house that night. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar did not make his appearance again until late in the afternoon. +When his mother called him to account for his treatment of Bridget, he +denied the greater part of her story. He said that the basin of water +was standing upon the floor, and that he accidentally hit it with his +foot, and upset it. He denied that he called her bad names or was +impudent, but he admitted that he laughed, to see her so angry. He +also complained that she was as "cross as Bedlam" to him, and "jawed" +him whenever he entered the kitchen. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Preston, puzzled by these contradictory stories, brought the two +contending parties face to face, in hope of either eliciting the truth +or effecting a treaty of peace between them. She failed in both +objects, however. Bridget not only adhered to her first statement, but +boldly accused Oscar of sundry other misdeeds that had come up in +recollection since the first outbreak; while Oscar, on the other hand, +stoutly denied most of her charges, and insisted that she was +ill-natured, and irritated him in every possible way. The contest +finally waxed so warm between them that Mrs. Preston was obliged to +interpose, and to withdraw with Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Preston never ascertained the real facts in the case. Candor +compels me to say that Bridget's complaints were essentially true. +Knowing the poor Irish girl's weak side (her quick temper), Oscar had +for some time taxed his ingenuity to torment her, for the sake of +hearing her "sputter," as he termed it. He was not only impudent, and +applied offensive names to her, but sometimes he purposely put her to +extra labor and trouble by misplacing articles, making dirt about the +house, &c. These things were a sad annoyance to Bridget, and she soon +came to regard Oscar as "the plague of her life," and treated him +accordingly. He did very wrong to annoy her in this way; and she was +foolish to take so much notice of his hectoring. The ill-will thus +established between them grew day by day, until it resulted in the open +rupture just described. But Mrs. Preston did not give full credit to +Bridget's story. She believed the difficulty was owing quite as much +to Biddy's irritable temper and ignorance as to Oscar's impudence, and +consequently the latter escaped with a slight reprimand. She also +prevailed upon Bridget to remain with them the week out, thinking she +would by that time get over her anger. But, to the surprise of all, +when Saturday night came, Bridget took her departure. She had got +another "place," where she would be out of the reach of the provoking +Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +The week for the annual examination of the public schools soon arrived. +Oscar begged hard, but in vain, for permission to absent himself, on +the eventful day that the grave committee and other distinguished +visitors were to sit in judgment upon the condition of the school to +which he belonged. But though he was present, he did not appear to +much advantage among the "bright particular stars" of the day; and as +one and another of the flower of his class were called out, to receive +the "Franklin medals," his name was not heard, and no silken ribbon, +with silver medal attached, was hung around his neck. +</P> + +<P> +The same day, in obedience to the orders of his father, but very much +against his own inclination, Oscar applied to the head master for the +certificate required of boys who present themselves for admission to +the High School. The teacher seemed a little puzzled what reply to +make. At length he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know what kind of a certificate is required?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar, who had read the advertisement in the paper +that morning. +</P> + +<P> +"The certificate must say that you are a boy of good character, and +that your teacher believes you are qualified for admission to the High +School," continued the master. "Now I want to ask you if you think I +can honestly say that of you?" +</P> + +<P> +Oscar hung his head in shame, but made no reply. It had turned out +just as he feared it would. +</P> + +<P> +"It is very hard to refuse such a request," continued the teacher; +"but, really, if I should give you the certificate, I am afraid it +would do you no good, while it might do me some harm, for I don't like +to have my scholars rejected. I cannot honestly say that I think you +are qualified for the High School; and besides your conduct has been +such of late, that I do not see how I could give you a very high +recommendation. I would advise you to give up the idea of applying for +admission. I am very sorry it is so, but that will not help the +matter." +</P> + +<P> +What could Oscar say to this? He said nothing, but his looks betrayed +the deep mortification he felt, and moved his teacher to pity, while he +denied his request. Nor was this the end of Oscar's troubles. He had +got to face his father, and to confess to him that he was found +unworthy even to be a candidate for the school for which he had so long +been preparing. In doing this, he smoothed over the matter as well as +he could; but at best it was a bitter thing to him, and thus he began +to experience some of the sad but natural effects of his own misconduct. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +NED MIXER. +</H3> + + +<P> +The long summer vacation had now commenced. Oscar wished to spend it +at Brookdale, but his parents did not seem much inclined to yield to +his wishes. They had not yet fully determined what to do with him; +whether to send him to a private school, when the vacations were over, +or to put him to work in some shop or store. Meanwhile, Oscar was +idling away his time about the streets, and devoting all his energies +to the pursuit of amusement. His favorite place of resort continued to +be the hotel where Alfred Walton lived. Here he found congenial +spirits in Alfred, and Andy the speller, and the several drivers and +hostlers, with whom he was on intimate terms. Here, too, he often met +with strangers who took his fancy. +</P> + +<P> +At this time, a boy named Edward Mixer was boarding at the hotel. He +had lately come to Boston from another city, and Oscar and Alfred were +soon captivated by his free and easy manners, and his sociable +qualities. He was between fifteen and sixteen years old, and +represented that he was travelling about, to see the world. He said he +had plenty of money, and should have a great deal more, when he became +of age. He was fashionably dressed, and Oscar and Alfred felt proud of +his acquaintance, and were soon on terms of intimacy with him. +</P> + +<P> +It was not long before Oscar discovered that Edward was a very bad boy. +His conversation was low and profane, and he seemed to take special +delight in relating sundry "scrapes," in which he himself figured in a +character that was something worse than mischievous, and bordered on +the criminal. He "talked large," too, amazingly large; and Oscar and +Alfred were at length forced to the reluctant conclusion that he was an +unmitigated liar. But these were small faults, in their view. They +considered Ned a capital fellow, and a right down good companion, in +spite of these little drawbacks, and they sought his company as much as +ever. +</P> + +<P> +Ned spent a good deal of his time around the several railroad depôts. +He seemed to have quite a mania for such places. Oscar and Alfred +often accompanied him to these favorite old haunts of theirs. One +morning, as the three were loitering around a depôt, having nothing in +particular to amuse themselves with, an excursion on foot into a +neighboring town was proposed, and all readily agreed to the +suggestion. They immediately set out, accompanied by Oscar's dog, +Tiger. They walked along the railroad track, and crossed the river by +the railroad bridge, thus saving their tolls, besides many extra steps. +They passed several small sign-boards, on which was painted the +warning, "<I>No Person allowed to cross this Bridge</I>;" but this did not +check their progress, and as no one interfered with them, they were +soon safely over the river. They still followed the track for some +distance, until they had reached the open country, and then they turned +off into the green fields. +</P> + +<P> +There were many fine orchards and gardens on every side, but ripe +fruits and berries were very scarce. Strawberries and cherries had +pretty much disappeared, and it was not yet time for plums, peaches, +and early apples and pears. Ned appeared to regret this very much. +</P> + +<P> +"Just see there!" he exclaimed, as they approached a large garden, +remote from any house, whose trees were loaded with green fruit. "What +fine picking we should have, if it were only a few weeks later! I mean +to come out here again next month, you see if I don't. We must mark +this place; let me see; there's an old rough board fence—I shall +remember that, I guess. Didn't you ever rob an orchard, Alf? I've +robbed more than you could shake a stick at. I 'm a first-rate hand at +it, I can tell you—never got caught in my life; but I've come pretty +near it, though, a good many times. Hold on—I 'm going to get over +the fence, and see what they 've got. Those plums over there look as +if they were pretty near ripe. Come, Alf and Oscar, won't you get +over?" +</P> + +<P> +"You two may," said Oscar, "but I 'll stay here with Tiger. He might +bark if we all got over, where he could n't see us." +</P> + +<P> +Edward and Alfred were soon upon the other side of the fence. While +they were exploring the garden, Oscar's attention was attracted to a +dense thicket, from which two or three birds suddenly flew on his +approach. He thought there might be a nest there, and concluded to see +if he could find it. Carefully brushing aside the leaves and twigs, he +began to hunt for the suspected nest, while Tiger stood looking on. +Absorbed in this occupation, he lost sight of his comrades. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-304"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-304.jpg" ALT="Hunting for Birds' Nests." BORDER="2" WIDTH="296" HEIGHT="229"> +<H4> +[Illustration: Hunting for Birds' Nests.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +After searching for several minutes, Oscar found a small nest, within +his reach, but it was empty. He turned to inform the other boys of his +success, but they were nowhere to be seen. He walked along by the +fence, but could see nothing of them. He was afraid to call to them, +lest the owner of the garden might hear, and take the alarm. He +listened, but could not hear them. He walked along still further, and +kept his eyes wide open, but they were not to be seen. He concluded +they were playing a trick upon him, and had hid themselves. If that +was the game he thought, he would not worry himself about it. He +accordingly turned about, and was going to sit down and wait for them +to make their appearance, when he happened to espy them in a distant +field, running at the top of their speed, with a man in full chase +after them. It was soon evident that the boys were gaining on their +pursuer; but they were approaching a brook, over which there was no +bridge, and the man probably supposed that would bring them to a stand. +It did not, however, for they ran right through the shallow water, +without stopping to think about it. The man did not think it prudent +to follow their example, and he accordingly gave up the chase, and went +back with dry feet. +</P> + +<P> +After Edward and Alfred had got rid of their pursuer, they began to +look around for Oscar. The latter, putting his fingers into his mouth, +gave a loud and shrill whistle, which they immediately recognized, and +answered in a similar way. Oscar started towards them, and taking a +wide sweep through the fields, they all came out together upon the +highway. They did not think it safe to remain long in the +neighborhood, and so they hurried on towards Boston. It appeared, from +Edward's story, that he and Alfred knocked a few hard peaches from a +tree, while in the garden, but they proved unfit to eat. They also +found some ripe currants, and were leisurely helping themselves, when +they heard somebody ask them what they were about. They turned, and +saw a man approaching; whereupon, without stopping to answer his +question, they leaped over the fence, and took to their heels, the man +following closely upon them. The conclusion of the race Oscar had +witnessed. +</P> + +<P> +As they were walking home, and talking about various matters, Edward +suddenly gave the conversation a new turn, by inquiring: +</P> + +<P> +"Boys, do you want to go into a grand speculation with me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, what is it?" was the response of both the others. +</P> + +<P> +"We should make something handsome out of it, but we should have to run +some risk," continued Edward. "I've got the scheme all laid out, so +that I know just how to go to work. But it's no use talking about it. +I don't believe either of you have got pluck enough to go into it." +</P> + +<P> +"I 've got pluck—the real, genuine article; try me, and see if I have +n't," said Alfred. +</P> + +<P> +"So have I," said Oscar; "I should like to have you show me a boy +that's got more pluck than I have, when I get stirred up." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh, you don't know what pluck is, neither of you," replied Edward. +"What would you do if a policeman should nab you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should run, just as <I>you</I> did, when the man caught you stealing +fruit," said Oscar, with a laugh. "That's a specimen of <I>your</I> pluck, +aint it?" +</P> + +<P> +"But what is the speculation you were telling about?" inquired Alfred. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess I shan't tell you about it now," replied Edward. "I 'm afraid +you would n't keep it to yourselves." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes we will. <I>I</I> will at any rate," said Alfred. +</P> + +<P> +"So will I," added Oscar. +</P> + +<P> +"If I let you into the secret, and you should blab it out, I would n't +mind killing both of you," said Edward, with forced gravity, which he +could not long maintain, it gradually relaxing into a smile. "I mean +what I say," he added, "you needn't laugh at it." +</P> + +<P> +Both the others renewed their promise to keep the matter a secret; but +Edward, after talking about his scheme a quarter of an hour longer, and +exciting the curiosity of the others to the highest point, finally +informed them that he could not let them into the secret then, but that +he would tell them all about it in a few days, if he was sure that they +would keep it to themselves. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar saw Edward almost every day, and often inquired about his +speculation, but got no definite answer. He and Alfred both felt very +curious to know what it was; but though expectation was on tiptoe, it +was not gratified. Edward assured them, however, that things were +nearly ready, and that in a few days he would let them into the +mysterious scheme. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar's uncle, from Brookdale, was now in the city, and was stopping +for a few days at Mr. Preston's. He no sooner arrived, than Oscar +applied to his parents for permission to return with him to Maine; but +they did not give much encouragement to his proposal, although his +uncle said he should like to have him make his family another visit. +Oscar, however, daily renewed his request, for he believed that he +should yet accomplish his object by teasing. +</P> + +<P> +The day before Oscar's uncle was to return to his home, a gentleman +called into Mr. Preston's store, and told him he wished to see him +alone. Having with drawn to a private room, the stranger introduced +himself as an officer of the police. +</P> + +<P> +"You have a son fourteen or fifteen years old?" inquired the officer. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I have," replied Mr. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you aware that he is getting into bad company?" continued the +officer. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," said Mr. Preston. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," resumed the other, "I 've called to acquaint you of a few facts +that have come to my knowledge, and you can act in the matter as you +think best. There is a young fellow stopping at the —— Hotel, who +came to this city a few weeks ago, and who calls himself Edward Mixer. +He is a little larger than your son, and is well dressed, and looks +like a respectable boy; but for a week or two past we have suspected +that he was a rogue. He hangs around the railroad depôts, and as +several persons have had their pockets picked, when getting out of the +cars, since he made his appearance, we began to watch him. We have got +no evidence against him yet; but yesterday I pointed him out to a New +York policeman, who happened to be here, and he says he knows him well. +It seems he is a regular pickpocket by profession, and has served a +term at Blackwell's Island. [1] He was liberated last month, and came +on here to follow the business where he isn't known. But we keep a +sharp eye on him, and as we have noticed that your son is quite +intimate with him, I thought it my duty to inform you of it. I don't +suppose your boy knows the real character of this fellow, or has +anything to do with his roguery; but it isn't safe for him to be in +such company, and I thought you ought to know what is going on." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Preston thanked the officer very cordially for the information, and +promised to see that Oscar was immediately put out of the way of danger +from this source. When he went home at noon, he had a long private +interview with his son, and informed him of the disclosures the officer +had made. Oscar was not a little astonished to learn that the genteel +and sociable Ned Mixer, whose company he prized so highly, was a thief +by trade, and was fresh from a prison. He assured his father that he +knew nothing of all this. This was true; but after all Oscar knew too +much of the character of Ned to believe him to be a good boy, or a safe +companion. He had heard him swear and lie. He had also heard him +sneer at virtue, and boast of deeds that no well-ordered conscience +would approve. And yet he courted his company, and considered him a +"capital fellow"! O, foolish boy! +</P> + +<P> +But Oscar's plea of ignorance did not fully excuse him, even in the eye +of his father, who did not know how little force that plea really had. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't suppose you knew his character," said Mr. Preston; "but are +there not good boys enough in the neighborhood for you to associate +with—boys that have always lived here and are well known—without your +cultivating the acquaintance of every straggler and vagabond that comes +along? I wish you would not make yourself so intimate with Tom, Dick, +and Harry, before you know anything about them. I 've cautioned you +against this a good many times, and now I hope that you 'll see there +is some cause for it. If this intimacy had gone on a few weeks longer, +it might have ruined you and disgraced your mother and me." +</P> + +<P> +After consultation with his wife and brother, Mr. Preston concluded to +let Oscar go down to Brookdale; and remain until they could make some +permanent arrangements for him elsewhere. He did not think it safe for +him to remain longer exposed to the temptations of the city. He +charged Oscar not to speak again to Ned, and not to inform any one of +the facts he had learned about him, lest it might thwart the efforts of +the police to detect his rogueries. On second thought, he concluded to +take Oscar to the store with him that afternoon, to prevent the +possibility of an interview between him and Ned. Oscar thus remained +under the eye of his father through the day. In the evening he packed +his valise for the journey, and the next morning he started for +Brookdale with his uncle. +</P> + +<P> +A day or two after Oscar's departure, Ned was arrested in the act of +picking a lady's pocket at a railroad depôt. Being unable to obtain +bail, he was committed for trial. When his case came up in court, he +was brought in guilty; and it appearing, from the testimony of the +officers, that, though young, he was quite old in crime, he was +sentenced to one year in the House of Correction. +</P> + +<P> +Oscar never ascertained the nature of Ned's "grand speculation," and +probably it was well for him that he did not. Had he been let into the +secret, and had the scheme been carried into effect at the time it was +first talked of, I might have been obliged to add another and a still +sadder chapter to the history of "THE BOY WHO HAD HIS OWN WAY." +</P> + +<P> +</P> + +<P> +[1] The New York Penitentiary. +</P> + +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OSCAR***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 18153-h.txt or 18153-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/5/18153">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/1/5/18153</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Oscar + The Boy Who Had His Own Way + + +Author: Walter Aimwell + + + +Release Date: April 11, 2006 [eBook #18153] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OSCAR*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 18153-h.htm or 18153-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/5/18153/18153-h/18153-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/5/18153/18153-h.zip) + + + + + +The Aimwell Stories + +OSCAR: + +Or The Boy Who Had His Own Way. + +by + +WALTER AIMWELL, + +Author of "Clinton," "Boy's Own Guide," Etc. + +With Illustrations. + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: Winter Scene on Boston Common.] + +[Title-Page: Vignette.] + + + + +Boston: +Gould and Lincoln, +69 Washington Street. +New York: Sheldon and Company. +Cincinnati: Geo. S. Blanchard. +1861. +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by +Gould and Lincoln, +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court, +of the District of Massachusetts + + + + +PREFACE. + +In the story of OSCAR is portrayed the career of a bright but somewhat +headstrong boy, who was over-indulged by his parents, and who usually +managed to "have his own way," by hook or by crook. The book is designed +to exhibit some of the bad consequences of acquiring a wayward and +lawless spirit, and of falling into indolent, untruthful, and disobedient +habits. These are its main lessons, intermingled with which are a +variety of others, of scarcely less importance to the young. + +_Winchester, Mass._ + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + +"PRECEPTS MAY LEAD BUT EXAMPLES DRAW." + + +"THE AIMWELL STORIES" are designed to portray some of the leading phases +of juvenile character, and to point out their tendencies to future good +and evil. This they undertake to do by describing the quiet, natural +scenes and incidents of everyday life, in city and country, at home and +abroad, at school and upon the play-ground, rather than by resorting to +romantic adventures and startling effects. While their main object is to +persuade the young to lay well the foundations of their characters, to +win them to the ways of virtue, and to incite them to good deeds and +noble aims, the attempt is also made to mingle amusing, curious, and +useful information with the moral lessons conveyed. It is hoped that the +volumes will thus be made attractive and agreeable, as well as +instructive, to the youthful reader. + +Each volume of the "Aimwell Stories" will be complete and independent of +itself, although a connecting thread will run through the whole series. +The order of the volumes, so far as completed, is as follows:-- + + I. OSCAR; OR, THE BOY WHO HAD HIS OWN WAY. + II. CLINTON; OR, BOY-LIFE IN THE COUNTRY. + III. ELLA; OR, TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF. + IV. WHISTLER; OR, THE MANLY BOY. + V. MARCUS; OR, THE BOY-TAMER. + VI. JESSIE; OR, TRYING TO BE SOMEBODY. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A KITCHEN SCENE. + +Bridget and her little realm--A troop of rude intruders--An imperious +demand--A flat refusal--Prying investigations--Biddy's displeasure +aroused--Why Oscar could not find the pie--Another squabble, and its +consequences--Studying under difficulties--Shooting peas--Ralph and +George provoked--A piece of Bridget's mind--Mrs. Preston--George's +complaint--Oscar rebuked--A tell-tale--Oscar's brothers and sisters--His +father and mother. + + +CHAPTER II. + +OSCAR IN SCHOOL. + +Oscar's school--The divisions and classes--Lively and pleasant +sights--Playing schoolmaster--Carrying the joke too far to be +agreeable--Oscar's indolence in school--Gazing at the blackboard--A +release from study, and an unexpected privilege--Whiling away an +hour--Doing nothing harder work than studying--A half-learned lesson--A +habit of Oscar's--A ridiculous blunder--Absurd mistakes of the British +government about the great lakes--Oscar less pardonable than +they--Another blunder--Difference between guessing and knowing--Oscar +detained after school--His recitation--Good advice--Remembering the +blackboard--Willie Davenport--A pounding promised. + + +CHAPTER III. + +PAYING OFF A GRUDGE. + +Whistler--Why Ralph liked him--Why Oscar disliked him--A caution--A +sudden attack--An unexpected rescue--The stranger's advice--A brave +and manly answer--Whistler refuses to expose Oscar's name--The +boys separate--George's report of the scene, and Ralph's +explanation--Oscar's return--His sister's rebuke--His mother's +inquiries--Misrepresentations--Willie exonerated--Forgiving +enemies--An unpleasant promise called to mind--Mr. Preston's action +in the matter--Oscar refuses to punish himself--The chamber--A +surprise--Falsehood--Exposure--The account settled--Silence--Late +rising and a cold breakfast--What Mrs. Preston said--Its effect upon +Oscar--Concealed emotion--Mistaken notions of manliness--Good impressions +made--George's narrow escape. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE HOTEL. + +Alfred Walton--His home--Hotel acquaintances--Coarse stories and +jokes--Andy--His peculiarities--Tobacco--A spelling lesson--The +disappointment--Anger--Bright and her family--Fun and mischief--The owner +of the pups--A promise--A ride to the depot--A walk about the +building--Examining wheels--The tracks--An arrival--A swarm of +passengers--Two young travellers taken in tow--Their story--Arrival at +the hotel--A walk--Purchase of deadly weapons--A heavy bill--Gifts to +Alfred and Oscar--A brave speech for a little fellow--Going home. + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE YOUNG TRAVELLERS + +The Sabbath--Uneasiness--Monday morning--A pressing invitation to play +truant--Hesitation--The decision--Oscar's misgivings--Manners of the two +travellers--A small theft--Flight--A narrow escape--A costly cake of +sugar--The bridge to Charlestown--The monument--The navy yard--Objects of +interest--Incidents of Joseph's life--A slight test of his +courage--Oscar's plans--Going to dinner--A grand "take in"--Alfred's +disclosures--Real character of the young travellers--Their tough +stories--A mutual difficulty--Confessing what cannot be concealed--Good +advice and mild reproof--The teacher's leniency explained. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WORK. + +A command--Passing it along--Reluctant obedience--A poor excuse--A bad +habit--Employment for vacation--Oscar's opposition to the plan--Frank +the errand-boy--Thanksgiving week--A busy time--Oscar's experience as +store-boy--Learning to sweep--Doing work well--A tempting invitation--Its +acceptance--A ride--Driving horses--The errand--The return--Oscar +at the store--Sent off "with a flea in his ear"--The matter +brought up again--Oscar's excuse unsatisfactory--Ralph's services +rewarded--Difference between the two boys. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THANKSGIVING DAY. + +Grandmother's arrival--Surprises--Presents--Oscar at a +shooting-match--Bad company--Cruel sport--Home again--Prevarication--A +remonstrance--Impudence, and a silent rebuke--The dinner--A stormy +afternoon--A disappointment--Evening in the parlor--A call for +stories--How the Indians punished bad boys--What Oscar thought of it--An +Indian story--The hostile party--The alarm--The stratagem--The onset--The +retreat--The victory--Laplot River--Widow Storey's retreat--Misfortunes +of her husband--Her enterprise and industry--Fleeing from the +British--The subterranean abode--Precautions to prevent discovery--Uncle +James--The fellow who was caught in his own trap--Old Zigzag--His +oddities--His tragic end--How the town of Barre, Vt., got its name--A +well-spent evening. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +GRANDMOTHER LEE. + +One of her habits--Ella's complaint--Alice's reproof--Ella's rude reply +to her grandmother--A mild rebuke--A sterner reproof--Shame and +repentance--Popping corn--George's selfishness--A fruitless search for +the corn-bag--Bad Temper--An ineffectual reproof--George's obstinacy--How +he became selfish--Difficulty of breaking up a bad habit--What he lost by +his selfishness--Oscar's dog--He is named "Tiger"--His portrait--His +roguishness--Oscar's trick upon his grandmother--Unfortunate +ending--Tiger's destructiveness--A mystery, and its probable +solution--Oscar's falsehood--Tiger's banishment decreed, but not carried +out--Grandmother Lee's remonstrance with Oscar--Bridget's onset--Oscar's +excuse--Moral principle wanting--Mrs. Lee's departure. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WINTER SPORTS. + +Coasting--Oscar's sled--Borrowing and lending--A merry scene on the +Common--Various sleds and characters--A collision--Damage to Ralph and +the "Clipper"--Not accidental--The guilty parties called to account--No +satisfaction obtained--Ralph's trouble--Oscar's anger--His revenge--A +fight--His termination--Skating--Tiger on the ice--His plunge into an +air-hole--His alarm and escape--Going home--Unfounded fears +awakened--Tiger's shame--A talk about air-holes--What they are for, and +how they are made--Skaters should be cautious--A change in Tiger's +habits--A great snow-storm--Appearance of the streets--Fun for the +boys--A job for Oscar--He is wiser than his father--Nullification of a +command--The command repeated--Icy sidewalks--Laziness and its excuses--A +wise suggestion--Duty neglected--Oscar called to account--His +excuses--Unpleasant consequences of his negligence--The command repeated, +with a "snapper" at the end--The dreaded task completed. + + +CHAPTER X. + +APPEARANCES. + +A compulsory ride--Merited retribution--A sad plight for a proud +boy--Laughter and ridicule--Oscar's neatness and love of dress--The +patched jacket--Oscar's objections to it--Benny Wright, the boy of many +patches--His character--The jacket question peremptorily settled--A +significant shake of the head--A watch wanted--Why boys carry +watches--Punctuality--Oscar's tardiness at school--The real cause of +it--Thinking too much of outside appearances--Character of more +consequence than cloth--An offer--The conditions--A hard question--How to +accomplish an object--Oscar's waywardness--Boarding-school +discipline--The High School--An anticipated novelty. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE MORAL LESSON. + +Oscar's shrewdness--His reputation for integrity--A new +want--Perplexity--A chance for speculation--A dishonest +device--Its success--Secrecy--The fraud discovered--Oscar's +defence--Restitution refused--Indignation--The Monday morning +lesson in morals--Dishonesty--Rectifying mistakes--The principle +unfolded--Restoring lost articles--A case for Oscar to decide--His +reluctant decision--Taking advantage of another's ignorance--Duty of +restitution--Other forms of dishonesty--Better to be cheated than to +cheat--Effect of the lesson upon Oscar. + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SICKNESS. + +Wet feet--A command disobeyed--Dabbling in the water--Playing +on the ice--An unexpected adventure--Afloat on an ice-cake--A +consultation--Danger and alarm--Spectators--A call for help--A critical +situation--The rescue--Effects of the adventure--Feverish dreams--Strange +feelings--The doctor's visit--Lung fever--The Latin prescription--Oscar's +removal--He grows worse--Peevishness--Passing the crisis--Improved +behavior--Getting better--General rejoicings--Further improvement--Return +of a bad habit--Fretfulness and impatience--A dispute--First attempt to +sit up--Its failure--First day in an easy chair--The sweets of +convalescence--Danger of a relapse. + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +GETTING WELL. + +Hunger--An evil suggestion--First visit down stairs--Midnight +supper--Weakness and exhaustion--An ill turn--The doctor's visit--The +mystery explained--Contents of a sick boy's stomach--The doctor's abrupt +farewell--His recall--Promise of obedience--Punishment for +imprudence--Directions--Effects of the relapse--Slow recovery--The +menagerie procession--A wet morning--Disobedience--Exposure, and its +consequences--Reading--The borrowed book--The curious letter--Puzzles, +with illustrations--Guessing riddles--Oscar's treatment of Benjamin--His +present feelings towards him--Ella's copy of the letter--Oscar's growing +impatience--An arrival--Uncle John--The loggers--Cousins never seen--A +journey decided upon--Solution of riddles, conundrums, &c. + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE JOURNEY. + +Setting out--A long and wearisome ride--Portland--The hotel--Going +to bed--The queer little lamp--Lonesomeness--The evening +prayer--Morning--Breakfast--The railroad depot--Oscar's partiality for +stage-coaches and good horses--Eighty miles by steam--Dinner--The +stage-coach--An outside seat--The team and the roads--Villages--Mail +bags--Forests and rivers--End of the stage ride--Jerry--An +Introduction--A ride in a wagon--Bashfulness--An invisible village--The +journey's end--Mrs. Preston--More shy cousins--Supper--Evening +employments--Attempting to "scrape acquaintance"--Mary tells Oscar his +name--More questions--The tables turned--Getting acquainted in bed. + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BROOKDALE. + +A dull morning--New acquaintances--Inquiries about Jerry's school-time--A +long vacation--Work--Playmates--Rain--A fine sunrise--The distant pond--A +call to breakfast--Preliminary operations--Jerry's uncombed head--Oscar's +neatness--Jerry sent from the table--Bad manners--Bathing in the pond--An +anticipated pleasure interdicted--The river--A walk--The pond--Map of +Brookdale--Going to ride--The Cross-Roads--Billy's speed discussed--The +variety store--All sorts of things--Oscar's purchase--Returning +home--Short evenings--A nap--A queer dream--Oscar's smartness at +dreaming--Making fun of a country store--Mary's question--Crying +babies--Teasing--Walking backwards--A trip and a fall--A real crying +baby--Mary comforted--Jerry cuffed--Mortification. + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +IN THE WOODS. + +Forgotten medicine and renewed health--An excursion +planned--A gun wanted, but denied--Setting out on a long +tramp--Swamps--Upland--Brooks--How Brookdale got its name--Cutting +canes--Birch and beech--How to crook the handle of a cane--The philosophy +of it explained--The cigars--Fine groves--Stopping to rest--The +forest described--Birds and guns--Other game--Jim Oakley's strange +animal--Moose--The man who met a bear--A race--Mysterious disappearance +of the bear--The probable cause of his visit--The boy who killed two +bears--Oscar's courage--Prospect Rock--A fine view--The rabbit--The +woodchuck's hole--Crossing a swamp--Mosquitoes--The pond--The +hermit's hut--Some account of "Old Staples"--Buried treasures--Making +a fire--Baking potatoes and toasting cheese--Drinking pond +water--Dinner--Hunting for the hermit's money--What they meant to do with +it--A bath proposed--Smoothing over the matter--Going Into water--Drying +their hair--Going home--Lost In the woods--Arrival home--One kind of +punishment for wrong-doing. + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +CLINTON. + +The missing cap--Splitting wood--Jerry and Emily--A quarrel begun--The +cap found--A drink of buttermilk--Oscar's opinion of it--Jerry's love for +it--Another delay--Feeding the fowls--A mysterious letter--The Shanghae +rooster's complaint--Curiosity excited--The suspected author--Clinton's +education--Keeping dark about the letter--Who Clinton was--Where +he lived--Killing caterpillars--How caterpillars breed--The young +turkeys--The brood of chickens--The hen-coop--Clinton's management of +the poultry--His profits--Success the result of effort, not of luck--The +"rooster's letter" not alluded to--The piggery--The barn--"The horse's +prayer"--A new-comer--Her name--A discovery--Relationship of Clinton to +Whistler--Mrs. Davenport--Oscar conceals his dislike of Whistler--The +shop--Specimens of Clinton's work--Going home. + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE LETTER. + +A forgotten duty called to mind--Letter writing--A mysterious +allusion--The private room--No backing out--Making a beginning--Getting +stuck--Idling away time--Prying into letters--A commotion among the +swallows--Teaching the young ones how to fly--A good lesson lost--Mary +and her book--Her talk about the pictures--A pretty picture--A wasted +hour--Making another attempt--His success--Effects of being in earnest--A +copy of Oscar's letter--Emily's inquisitiveness--A rebuke--The message +she wanted to send--The meadow lot--Mulching for trees--Going to the old +wood lot--Cutting birch twigs-Forgetting to be lazy--The load--A ride to +the Cross-Roads--Mailing the letter--Paying the postage in advance. + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE RECALL. + +Hankerings after a gun--A plan--Jim Oakley's gun--A dispute--An open +rupture--The broken gun--Going home mad--A call from Clinton--The +toiler--Summons home--Disappointment--Bad feeling between Oscar and +Jerry--How they slept--Remarks about their appearance at the breakfast +table--Borrowing trouble--Another visit proposed--Jerry's explosion of +anger--His imprudence--Confinement down cellar--An unhappy day--"Making +up" at night--A duty neglected--Inquiries about the gun--Starting for +home--A pleasant drive--The stage-coach--The cars--Luncheon--Half +an hour in Portland--The Boston train--A spark in the eye--Pain and +inflammation--Boston--Ralph's surprise--Welcome home--The eye-stone--The +intruder removed. + + +CHAPTER XX. + +DOWNWARD PROGRESS. + +Oscar's dread of going to school--Unsuccessful pleas--Oscar at +school--His indifference to his studies--A "talent for missing"--A +reproof--Kicking a cap--Whistler's generosity--Benny Wright--Oscar's +bad conduct--Regarded as incorrigible--The tobacco spittle--Oscar's +denial--Betrayed by his breath--A successful search--The teacher's +rebuke--The new copy--Its effect--A note for Oscar's father--What it led +to--Concealment of real feelings--Bridget's complaint--The puddle on the +kitchen floor--Oscar's story--Conflicting reports--A new flare-up--The +truth of the matter--Bridget's departure--Examination day--The +medals--The certificate for the High School--A refusal--Bitter fruits of +misconduct. + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +NED MIXER. + +Vacation--Associates--Edward Mixer--His character--Loitering around +railroad depots--An excursion into the country--The railroad +bridge--Fruit--A fine garden--Getting over the fence--Looking for birds' +nests--Disappearance of Edward and Alfred--A chase--Escape of the +boys--Hailing each other--Edward's account of the adventure--A grand +speculation--Pluck--Secrecy--Curiosity not gratified--Arrival of Oscar's +uncle--The officer's interview with Mr. Preston--The real character and +history of Ned--Timely warning--Oscar's astonishment--What he knew +concerning Ned--A hint about forming new acquaintances--Oscar's +removal from city temptations decided on--A caution and +precaution--Departure--Ned's arrest and sentence--The "grand speculation" +never divulged. + + + + +Illustrations. + + +WINTER SCENE ON BOSTON COMMON . . . . . . FRONTISPIECE + +VIGNETTE . . . . . . . . . TITLE-PAGE + +PLAYING SCHOOLMASTER. + +THE ASSAULT. + +BRIGHT AND HER FAMILY. + +THANKSGIVING MARKET SCENE. + +TIGER'S COUNTENANCE. + +THE OVERTURN. + +AFLOAT ON THE ICE. + +A QUEER NAME. + +THE DOUBLE FACE. + +THE CAT-ERECT. + +MAP OF BROOKDALE. + +THE DINNER IN THE WOODS. + +MARY AND THE PICTURE-BOOK. + +THE STAGE-COACH. + +HUNTING FOR BIRDS' NESTS. + + + + +OSCAR. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A KITCHEN SCENE. + +Bridget, the Irish servant girl, had finished the house-work for the +day, and sat down to do a little mending with her needle. The fire in +the range, which for hours had sent forth such scorching blasts, was +now burning dim; for it was early in October, and the weather was mild +and pleasant. The floor was swept, and the various articles belonging +in the room were arranged in their proper places, for the night. The +mistress of the kitchen,--for Bridget claimed this as her rank, if not +her title,--was humming a queer medley of tunes known only to herself, +as her clumsy fingers were trying to coax the needle to perform some +dextrous feat that it did not seem inclined to do in her hands. What +she was thinking about, is none of our business; but whatever it was, +her revery was suddenly disturbed, and the good nature that beamed from +her face dispelled, by the noisy clattering of more than one pair of +little boots on the stairs. In a moment, the door opened with a jerk +and a push, and in bounded three boys, with as little display of +manners or propriety as so many savages might exhibit. The oldest +directed his steps to the closet, singing, as he peered round among the +eatables: + + "Eggs, cheese, butter, bread,-- + Stick, stock, stone-dead." + + +"Biddy," he continued, "I 'm hungry--give me something to eat, quick." + +Bridget paid no attention to this demand, but only twitched her needle +with a little more energy. + +"I say, Biddy," continued the boy, "what did you have for supper? +Come, give me some, I 'm half starved." + +"And why did n't ye come when the supper was ready, if ye wanted any?" +said Bridget. "If ye won't ate with the rest, it's not me that will +wait upon ye, Master Oscar." + +"Well," continued Oscar, "if you won't help me, I guess I can help +myself. Ralph, what did you have for supper?" + +The boy addressed named over several articles, among which were cake +and mince-pie, neither of which could Oscar find in the closet. + +"Where did you put the pie, Biddy?" he inquired. + +"It 's where ye won't find it," replied Bridget, "that's jist where it +is." + +"I bet I _will_ find it, come now," said Oscar, with a determined air; +and he commenced the search in earnest, prying into every covered dish, +opening every drawer and bucket, and overhauling and disarranging every +part of the closet. Bridget was just then in too irritable a mood to +bear this provoking invasion of her realm with patience. In an angry +tone, she ordered the intruder to leave the closet, but he took no +notice of the command. She repeated the order, making it more emphatic +by calling him a "plague" and a "torment," but he did not heed it. +Then she threatened to tell his parents of his misconduct, but this had +no effect. Oscar continued his search for some minutes, but without +success; and he finally concluded to make his supper of bread and +butter, since he could find nothing more tempting to his appetite. + +The fact was, Oscar was getting in the habit of being absent from his +meals, and calling for food at unseasonable hours, much to the +annoyance of Bridget. She had complained of this to his mother several +times, without effect; and now she thought she would try a little +expedient of her own. So, when she cleared away the supper-table that +evening, before Oscar came home, she hid away the cake and pies with +which the others had been served, and left only bread and butter in the +closet. She gained her end, but the boy, in rummaging for the hidden +articles, had made her half an hour's extra work, in putting things to +rights again. + +As Oscar stepped out of the closet, after his solitary supper, he moved +towards the youngest of the other boys, saying: + +"Here, George, open your mouth and shut your eyes, and I 'll give you +something to make you wise." + +George declined the gift, but Oscar insisted, and tried to force it +upon him. A struggle ensued, and both rolled upon the floor, the one +crying and screaming with anger, and the other laughing as though he +considered it good fun. George shut his teeth firmly together, but +Oscar succeeded in rubbing enough of the mysterious article upon his +lips to enable him to tell what it was. It proved to be a piece of +pepper, a plate of which Oscar had found in the closet. + +This little experiment, however, did not leave George in a very +pleasant frame of mind. It was some time before he got over his +blubbering and pouting. Oscar called him a "cry-baby," for making such +a fuss about a little bit of pepper, which epithet did not aid him much +in forgetting the injury he had received. + +After awhile, quiet and harmony were in a measure restored. Ralph and +George got their school-books, and began to look over the lessons they +were to recite in the morning; but Oscar not only remained idle, +himself, but seemed to try to interrupt them as much as possible, by +his remarks. By-and-bye, finding they did not take much notice of his +observations, he took from his jacket pocket a small tin tube, and +commenced blowing peas through it, aiming them at his brothers, at +Bridget, and at the lamp. Ralph, after two or three had taken effect +on his face, got up in a pet, and took his book up stairs to the +sitting-room. George scowled and scolded, as the annoying pellets flew +around his head, but he did not mean to be driven away by such small +shot. Bridget, too, soon lost her patience, as the peas rattled upon +the newly-swept floor. + +"Git away with yer pays, Oscar," said she; "don't ye be clutterin' up +the clane floor with 'em, that's a good b'y." + +"They aint 'pays,' they are _peas_," replied Oscar; "can't you say +peas, Biddy?" + +"I don't care what ye call 'em," said Bridget; "only kape the things in +yer pocket, and don't bother me with 'em." + +"Who 's bothering you?" said Oscar; "me 'pays' don't make any +dirt--they 're just as clean as your floor." + +"Ye 're a sassy b'y, that's jist what ye are." + +"Well, what are you going to do about it?" + +"Faith, if it was me that had the doin' of it, I bet I 'd larn ye +better manners, ye great, impudent good-for-nothin', if I had to bate +yer tin times a day." + +"You would n't, though, would you?" said Oscar; and he continued the +shower of peas until he had exhausted his stock, and then picked most +of them up again, to serve for some future occasion. He had hardly +finished this last operation, when his mother, who had been out, +returned home. As soon as she entered the kitchen, George began to +pour out his complaints to her. + +"Mother," he said, "Oscar 's been plaguing us like everything, all the +evening. He got me down on the floor, and rubbed a hot pepper on my +mouth, and tried to make me eat it. And he's been rummaging all round +the kitchen, trying to find some pie. And then he went to shooting +peas at us, and he got Bridget real mad, and Ralph had to clear out, to +study his lesson. I told him--" + +"There, there, George, that will do," replied his mother; "I am sick of +hearing these complaints. Oscar, why is it that I can't stir out of +the house, when you are at home, without your making trouble with +Bridget or the children? I do wish you would try to behave yourself +properly. You are getting the ill-will of everybody in the house, by +your bad conduct. I really believe your brothers and sisters will +begin to hate you, before long, if you keep on in this way. For your +own sake, if for nothing more, I should think you would try to do +better. If I were in your place, I would try to keep on good terms +with my brothers and sisters, if I quarrelled with everybody else." + +Oscar made no reply to this, and the subject was soon dropped. His +mother was too much accustomed to such complaints of his misconduct, to +think very seriously of them; and he was himself so used to such mild +rebukes as the foregoing, that they made little impression upon his +mind. The boys, who all slept in one chamber, soon retired for the +night; but Oscar took no further notice of the occurrences of the +evening, except to apply the nickname of "mammy's little tell-tale" to +George--a title of contempt by which he often addressed his little +brother. + +I am afraid that the title of "tell-tale" was not wholly undeserved by +George. True, he often had just cause of complaint; but he was too +ready to bring whining accusations against his brothers and sisters, +for every trifling thing. He complained so much that his mother could +not always tell when censure was deserved. It had become a habit with +him, and a dozen times a day he would go to her, with the complaint +that Oscar had been plaguing him, or Ella had got something that +belonged to him, or Ralph would not do this or that. + +George, who was the youngest of the children, was at this time seven +years old; Ralph was two years and half older, and Oscar, who was the +oldest son, was about half way between thirteen and fourteen. They had +two sisters. Alice, the oldest, was fifteen years of age, and Eleanor, +or Ella, as she was commonly called, was about eleven. + +The father of these boys and girls was a shop-keeper in Boston. His +business required so much of his attention, that he was seldom with his +family, except at meal-times and nights. Even in the evening he was +usually at the shop; but when it so happened that he could remain at +home after tea, it was his delight to settle himself comfortably down +in the big rocking chair, in the well-lighted sitting-room, and to muse +and doze, while Alice sang, and played upon the piano-forte. He had so +many other cares, that he did not like to be troubled with bad reports +of his children's conduct, This was so well understood by all the +family, that even George seldom ventured to go to him with a complaint. +The management of domestic affairs was thus left almost entirely with +Mrs. Preston, and she consulted her husband in regard to these matters +only when grave troubles arose. + +I have thus briefly introduced to my readers the family, one of whose +members is to form the principal subject of the following pages. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +OSCAR IN SCHOOL. + +The school which Oscar attended was held in a large and lofty brick +building, a short distance from the street on which he lived. His +brothers attended the same school, but his sisters did not, it being +only for boys. The pupils numbered four or five hundred--a good many +boys to be together in one building. But though belonging to one +school, and under the control of one head master, they did not often +meet together in one assembly. They were divided into eight or ten +branches, of about fifty scholars each, and each branch had its own +separate room and teacher. There were however, only four classes in +the whole school; and a this time Oscar was a member of the first, or +highest class. There was a large hall in the upper story of the +building, in which the entire school assembled on exhibition days, and +when they met for the practice of singing or declamation. + +There were lively and merry times in the vicinity of the school-house, +I can assure you, for half an hour before the opening of school, and +for about the same length of time after the exercises closed. Four +hundred boys cannot well be brought together, without making some stir. +Every morning and afternoon, as the pupils went to and from school, the +streets in the neighborhood would for a few minutes seem to swarm with +boys, of every imaginable size, shape, manners, dress, and appearance. +Usually, they went back and forth in little knots; and with their books +and slates under their arms, their bright, happy faces, their joyous +laugh, and their animated movements, they presented a most pleasing +sight,--"a sight for sore eyes," as a Scotchman might say. If anybody +disputes this, he must be a sour and crabbed fellow. + +Oscar, although not the most prompt and punctual of scholars, used +occasionally to go to school in season to have a little fun with his +mates, before the exercises commenced. One day, entering the +school-room a little before the time, he put on an old coat which his +teacher wore in-doors, stuck a quill behind his ear, and made a pair of +spectacles from some pasteboard, which he perched upon his nose. +Arranged, in this fantastical manner, he seated himself with great +dignity in the teacher's chair, and began to "play school-master," to +the amusement of several other boys. It so happened that the teacher +arrived earlier than usual that day, and he was not a little amused, as +he suddenly entered the room, and witnessed the farce that was going +on. Oscar jumped from his seat, but the master made him take it again, +and remain in it just as he caught him, with his great-coat, pasteboard +spectacles and quill, until all the scholars had assembled, and it was +time to commence the studies of the day. This afforded fine sport to +the other boys, but Oscar did not much relish the fun, and he never +attempted to amuse himself in that way again. + +[Illustration: Playing Schoolmaster] + +I am sorry that this harmless piece of roguery is not the most serious +charge that candor obliges me to bring against Oscar. But to tell the +truth, he was not noted either for his studious habits or his correct +deportment; and there was very little prospect that he would be +considered a candidate for the "Franklin medals," which were to be +distributed to the most deserving members of his class, when they +graduated, the ensuing July. And yet Oscar was naturally a bright and +intelligent boy. He was quick to learn, when he applied himself; but +he was indolent, and did not like to take the trouble of studying his +lessons. Whenever he could be made to take hold of a lesson in +earnest, he soon mastered it; but the consciousness of this power often +led him to put off his lessons to the last minute, and then perhaps +something would happen to prevent his preparing himself at all. + +A day or two after the "kitchen scene" described in the preceding +chapter, Oscar was sitting at his desk in the school-room, with an open +book before him, but with his eyes idly staring at a blackboard affixed +to one of the walls. The teacher watched him a moment, and then spoke +to him. + +"Oscar," he said, "what do you find so very fascinating about that +blackboard? You have been looking at it very intently for several +minutes--what do you see that interests you so!" + +Oscar hung his head, but made no reply. + +"Are you ready to recite your geography lesson?" continued the master. + +"No, sir." + +"Why do you not study it, then'" + +"I don't feel like studying," replied Oscar. + +"Very well," said the teacher, quite pleasantly; "if you don't feel +like it, you need n't study. You may come here." + +Oscar stepped out to the platform on which the teacher's desk was +placed. + +"There," continued the master, pointing to a blackboard facing the +school, "you may stand there and look at that board just as long as you +please. But you must not look at anything else, and I would advise you +not to let me catch your eyes turning either to the right or the left. +Now mind and keep your eyes on the board, and when you feel like +studying let me know." + +Oscar took the position pointed out to him, with his back towards the +boys, and with his face so near the blackboard, that he could see +nothing else without turning his head--an operation that would be sure +to attract the attention of the master. At first he thought it would +be good fun to stand there, and for awhile the novelty of the thing did +amuse him a little. When he began to grow weary, he contrived to +interest himself by tracing out the faint chalk-marks of long-forgotten +problems, that had not been entirely obliterated from the blackboard. +This afforded employment for his mind for a time; but by-and-bye he +began to grow tired and uneasy. His eyes longed to see something else, +and his legs were weary of standing so long in one position. He +wondered, too, whether the boys were looking at him, and whether they +smiled at his strange employment. At last, after doing penance about +an hour, his exhaustion got the better of his stubbornness, and on +informing the master that he thought ho could study now, he was +permitted to take his seat. + +After returning to his desk, Oscar had but little time to finish +learning his geography lesson, before the class was called out to +recite. As was too often the case, he was but half prepared. The +subject of the lesson was New York State. Several of the questions put +to Oscar were answered wrong, either wholly or in part. When asked +what great lakes bordered on New York, he replied: + +"Lake Erie and Lake Superior." + +When the question was given to another, and correctly answered, Oscar +exclaimed: + +"That's what I meant--Erie and Ontario; but I was n't thinking what I +said." + +This was somewhat of a habit with Oscar. When he "missed" a question, +he was very apt to say, after the next boy had answered it, "I knew, +only I could n't think," or, "I was just going to say so." + +Another question put to him was, whether the water of the great New +York lakes was fresh or salt. Oscar replied that it was salt. It is +but justice to add, how ever, that nothing was said in the lesson of +the day, on this point, although the question had occurred in a +previous lesson. Noticing that several of the boys laughed at Oscar's +blunder, the teacher remarked: + +"That was a very foolish answer, Oscar, but you are not the first nor +the wisest person that has made the same mistake. When the British +went to war with us, in 1812, it is said that all their war vessels +intended to navigate the lakes, were furnished with tanks and casks for +carrying a full supply of freshwater; and I have been told that an +apparatus is still in existence in one of the Canadian navy yards, +which the English government sent over, some years ago, for distilling +fresh water from Lake Erie. But an American school-boy of your age +ought to know better than this, if an English lord of the admiralty +does not. These great lakes are among the remarkable features of our +own country, and every American child should know something about them. +I should suppose," continued the teacher, "that a boy who could afford +to look steadily at nothing for an hour, might take a little pains to +inform himself about so common a matter as this, so as not to appear so +ridiculous, when a simple question is asked him." + +Before the lesson was concluded, Oscar made still another mistake. +There was an allusion in the lesson to the great fire of 1885, by which +an immense amount of property in New York city was destroyed. When the +teacher asked him how many buildings were said to have been consumed, +he replied: + +"Three hundred and fifty--five hundred and thirty--no, three hundred +and fifty." + +"Which number do you mean?" inquired the master. + +"I aint sure which it is," replied Oscar, after a moment's hesitation; +"it's one or the other, I don't know which." + +"You are about as definite," said the teacher, "as the Irish recruit, +who said his height was five feet ten or ten feet five, he was n't +certain which. But are you _sure_ that the number of buildings burnt +was either three hundred and fifty, or five hundred and thirty?" + +"Why--yes--I--believe--it was one or the other," replied Oscar, +hesitatingly. + +"You _believe_ it was, do you? Well, I believe you know just nothing +about the lesson. You may go to your seat, and study it until you can +answer every question; and after school I will hear you recite it, and +remember, you will not go home until you _can_ recite it." + +The class continued their recitation, and Oscar returned to his seat, +and commenced studying the lesson anew. It was already late in the +afternoon, and as he did not like the idea of stopping after school, he +gave pretty close attention to his book during the rest of the session. +About fifteen minutes after the school was dismissed, he told the +teacher he was prepared to recite, and he succeeded in getting through +the lesson with tolerable accuracy. When he had finished, the teacher +talked with him very plainly about his indolent habits in school, and +the consequences that would hereafter result from them. + +"I would advise you," he said, "to do one of two things,--either commit +your lessons perfectly, hereafter, or else give up study entirely, and +ask your father to take you from school and put you to some business. +You can learn as fast as any boy in school, if you will only give your +attention to it; but I despise this half-way system that you have +fallen into. It is only wasting time to half learn a thing, as you did +your geography lesson this afternoon. You studied it just enough to +get a few indistinct impressions, and what little you did learn you +were not sure of. It would be better for you to master but one single +question a day, and then _know_ that you know it, than to fill your +head with a thousand half-learned, indefinite, and uncertain ideas. I +have told you all this before, but you do not seem to pay any attention +to it. I am sorry that it is so, for you might easily stand at the +head of the school, if you would try." + +Oscar _had_ received such advice before, but, as his teacher intimated, +he had not profited much by it. If anything, he had grown more +indolent and negligent, within a few months. On going home that night, +Ralph accosted him with the inquiry: + +"What did you think of the blackboard, Oscar? Do you suppose you +should know it again, if you should happen to see it?" + +"What do you mean?" he inquired, feigning ignorance. + +"O, you 've forgotten it a'ready, have you?" continued Ralph. "You +don't remember seeing anything of a blackboard this afternoon, do you?" + +"But who told you about it?" inquired Oscar; for though both attended +the same school, their places were in different rooms. + +"O, I know what's going on," said Ralph; "you need n't try to be so +secret about it." + +"Well, I know who told you about it--'t was Bill Davenport, was n't +it?" inquired Oscar. + +Willie and Ralph were such great cronies, that Oscar's supposition was +a very natural one. Indeed, Ralph could not deny it without telling a +falsehood, and so he made no reply. Oscar, perceiving he had guessed +right, added, in a contemptuous tone: + +"The little, sneaking tell-tale--I 'll give him a good pounding for +that, the first time I catch him." + +"You 're too bad, Oscar," interposed his brother; "Willie did n't +suppose you cared anything about standing before the blackboard--he +only spoke of it because he thought it was something queer." + +Seeing Oscar was in so unamiable a mood, Ralph said nothing more about +the subject, at that time. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PAYING OFF A GRUDGE. + +The morning after the events just related, as Ralph was on his way to +school, he fell in with Willie Davenport, or "Whistler," as he was +often sportively called, by his playmates, in allusion to his fondness +for a species of music to which most boys are more or less addicted. +And I may as well say here, that he was a very good whistler, and came +honestly by the title by which he was distinguished among his fellows. +His quick ear caught all the new and popular melodies of the day, +before they became threadbare, which gave his whistling an air of +freshness and novelty that few could rival. It was to this +circumstance--the quality of his whistling, rather than the +quantity--that he was chiefly indebted for the name of Whistler. Nor +was he ashamed of his nickname, as he certainly had no need to be; for +it was not applied to him in derision, but playfully and good-naturedly. + +Whistler and Ralph were good friends. There was a difference of +between two and three years in their ages, Whistler being about twelve +years old; but their dispositions harmonized together well, and quite a +strong friendship had grown up between them. A very different feeling, +however, had for some time existed between Oscar and Whistler. They +were in the same class at school; but Whistler studied hard, and thus, +though much younger than Oscar, he stood far before him as a scholar. +This awakened some feeling of resentment in Oscar, and he never let +slip any opportunity for annoying or mortifying his more industrious +and successful class-mate. + +On their way to school, on the morning in question, Ralph told Whistler +of Oscar's threat, and advised him to avoid his brother as much as +possible, for a day or two, until the affair of the blackboard should +pass from his mind. Whistler heeded this caution, and was careful not +to put himself in the way of his enemy. He succeeded in eluding him +through the day, and was on his way home from school in the afternoon, +when Oscar, who he thought had gone off in another direction, suddenly +appeared at his side. + +"You little tell-tale, you," cried Oscar, "what did you tell Ralph +about the blackboard for! I 'll learn you to mind your own business, +next time, you mean, sneaking meddler. Take that--and that," he +continued, giving Whistler several hard blows with his fist. The +latter attempted to dodge the blows, but did not return them, for this +he knew would only increase the anger of Oscar, who was so much his +superior in size and strength, as well as in the art of fisticuffs, +that he could do just about as he pleased with him. The affray, +however, was soon brought to an unexpected end, by a gentleman who +happened to witness it. Seizing Oscar by the collar of his jacket, he +exclaimed: + +"Here, here, sir! what are you doing to that little fellow? Don't you +know enough, you great lubber, to take a boy of your own size, if you +want to fight? Now run, my little man, and get out of his way," +continued the stranger, turning to Whistler, and still holding Oscar by +the collar. + +[Illustration: The Assault.] + +Whistler hesitated for a moment between the contending impulses of +obedience and manliness; and then, drawing himself up to his full +stature, he said, with a respectful but decided air: + +"No, sir, I have n't injured him, and I won't run away from him." + +"Well said, well said--you are a brave little fellow," continued the +gentleman, somewhat surprised at the turn the affair was taking. "What +is your name, sir?" + +"William Davenport." + +"And what is this boy's name?" + +"Oscar," replied Willie, and there he stopped, as if unwilling to +expose further the name of his abuser. + +"Well you may go now, Oscar," said the gentleman, relinquishing his +hold; "but if you lay your hands on William again, I shall complain of +you." + +The two boys walked off in opposite directions, the gentleman keeping +an eye upon Oscar until Whistler was out of his reach. + +A little knot of boys was drawn together by the circumstance just +related, among whom was George, Oscar's youngest brother. He witnessed +the attack, but knew nothing of its cause. As he went directly home, +while Oscar did not, he had an opportunity to report to his mother and +Ralph the scene he had just beheld. Ralph now related to his mother +the incident of the preceding day, which led to the assault; for, +seeing Oscar's unwillingness to have anything said about it, he had not +mentioned the matter to any one at home. Ralph was a generous-hearted +boy, and in this case was actuated by a regard for Oscar's feelings, +rather than by fear. + +Oscar did not come home that night until after dark. As he entered the +sitting-room, Alice, who was seated at the piano-forte, broke short off +the piece she was playing, and said, looking at him as sternly as she +could, + +"You great ugly boy!" + +"Why, what's the matter now?" inquired Oscar, who hardly knew whether +this rough salutation was designed to be in fun or in earnest; "don't I +look as well as usual?" + +"You looked well beating little Willie Davenport, don't you think you +did?" continued his sister, with the same stern look. "I 'm perfectly +ashamed of you--I declare, I did n't know you could do such a mean +thing as that." + +"I don't care," replied Oscar, "I 'll lick him again, if he does n't +mind his own business." + +As Oscar did not know that George witnessed the assault, he was at a +loss to know how Alice heard of it. She refused to tell him, and he +finally concluded that Whistler or his mother must have called there, +to enter a complaint against him. Pretty soon Mrs. Preston entered the +room, and sat down, to await the arrival of Oscar's father to tea. She +at once introduced the topic which was uppermost in her mind, by the +inquiry: + +"Oscar, what is the trouble between you and Willie Davenport?" + +"Why," replied Oscar, "he 's been telling stories about me." + +"Do you mean false stories?" + +"Yes--no--not exactly false, but it was n't true, neither." + +"It must have been a singular story, to have been either false nor +true. And as it appears there was but one story, I should like to know +what it was." + +"He told Ralph I had to stand up and look at a blackboard an hour." + +"Was that false?" + +"Yes," said Oscar, for in replying to his mother, of late, he had +usually omitted the "ma'am" (madam) which no well-bred boy will fail to +place after the yes or no addressed to a mother; "yes, it was a lie, +for I need n't have stood there five minutes, if I had n't wanted to." + +"Did you stand before the blackboard because you wanted to, or was it +intended as a punishment for not attending to your lesson!" + +"Why, I suppose it was meant for a punishment, but the master told me I +might go to my seat, whenever I wanted to study." + +"Then," said Mrs. Preston, "after all your quibbling, I don't see that +Willie told any falsehood. And, in fact, I don't believe he had any +idea of injuring you, when he told Ralph of the affair. He only spoke +of it as a little matter of news. But even if he had told a lie about +you, or had related the occurrence out of ill-will towards you, would +that be any excuse for your conduct, in beating him as you did this +afternoon! Do you remember the subject of your last Sabbath-school +lesson?" + +Oscar could not recall it, and shook his head in the negative. + +"I have not forgotten it," continued his mother; "it was on forgiving +our enemies, and it is a lesson that you very much need to learn. 'If +ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive +your trespasses,'--that was one of the verses of the lesson. It is +noble to forgive, but it is mean to retaliate. You must learn to +conquer your resentful spirit, or you will be in trouble all the time. +I shall report this matter to your father when he comes. I suppose you +remember what he promised you, when you had your fight with Sam Oliver?" + +Oscar remembered it very distinctly. On that occasion, his father +reprimanded him with much severity, and assured him that any repetition +of the fault would not go unpunished. + +Mr. Preston soon came in, and as the family sat at the tea-table, he +was informed of Oscar's misconduct. After scolding the culprit with +much sharpness, for his attack upon Willie, he concluded by ordering +him immediately to bed. Although it yet lacked two hours of his usual +bed-time, Oscar did not consider his punishment very severe, but +retired to his chamber, feeling delighted that he had got off so much +easier than he anticipated. Indeed, so little did he think of his +father's command, that he felt in no hurry to obey it. Instead of +going to bed, he sat awhile at the window, listening to the music of a +flute which some one in the neighborhood was playing upon. Presently +Ralph and George, who slept in the same chamber with him, came up to +keep him company. They amused themselves together for some time, and +Oscar quite forgot that he had been sent to bed, until the door +suddenly opened, and his father, whose attention had been attracted by +the noise, stood before him. + +"Did n't I tell you to go to bed an hour ago, Oscar?" he inquired. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Why have n't you obeyed me, then?" + +"Because," said Oscar, "I 've got a lesson to get to-night, and I have +n't studied it yet." + +"If you 've got a lesson to learn, where is your book?" inquired his +father. + +"It 's down stairs; I was afraid to go after it, and so I was trying to +coax Ralph to get it for me." + +"O, what a story!" cried George; "why, father, he has n't said one word +about his book." + +This was true. Oscar, in his extremity, had hastily framed a +falsehood, trusting that his assurance would enable him to carry it +through. And he would probably have succeeded but for George; as +Ralph, in his well-meant but very mistaken kindness for Oscar, would +not have been very likely to expose him. But the lie was nailed, and +Oscar's bold and wicked push had only placed him in a far worse +position than he occupied before. His father, for a moment, could +scarcely believe his ears; but this feeling of astonishment soon gave +way to a frown, before which Oscar cowered like a sheep before a lion. +Mr. Preston was a man of strong passions, but of few words. Having set +forth briefly but in vivid colors the aggravated nature of Oscar's +three-fold offence,--his attack upon Willie, his disobedience when +ordered to bed, and the falsehood with which he attempted to cover up +his disobedience,--he proceeded to inflict summary and severe +chastisement upon the offender. It was very rarely that he resorted to +this means of discipline, but this he deemed a case where it was +imperatively demanded. + +Silence reigned in the boys' chamber the rest of the night. Oscar was +too sullen to speak; Ralph silently pitied his brother, not less for +the sins into which he had fallen than for the pain he had suffered; +and George was too much taken up with thinking about the probable +after-clap of this storm, to notice anything else. + +Oscar was fond of his bed, and was usually the last one of the family +to rise, especially in cool weather. On the morning after the +occurrences above related, he laid abed later than usual even with him. +His father had gone to the store, and the children were out-doors at +play, before he made his appearance at the breakfast-table. He sat +down to the deserted table, and was helping himself to the cold +remnants of the meal, when his mother entered the room. Oscar noticed +that she looked unusually sad and dejected. After sitting in silence a +few moments, she remarked: + +"You see how I look, this morning, Oscar. I did not sleep half an hour +last night, and now I am not fit to be up from my bed--and all on your +account. I am afraid your misconduct will be the death of me, yet. I +used to love to think how much comfort I should take in you, when you +should grow up into a tall, manly youth; but I have been sadly +disappointed, so far. The older you grow, the worse you behave, and +the more trouble you make me. Do you intend always to go on in this +way?" + +Oscar nervously spread the slice of bread before him, but made no +reply. His mother continued her reproofs, in the same sad but +affectionate tone. She appealed to his sense of right, to his +gratitude, and to his hopes of future success and respectability in +life. She described the sad end to which these beginnings of +wrong-doing would inevitably lead him, and earnestly besought him to +try to do better, before his bad habits should become confirmed. Her +earnest manner, and her pale, haggard cheeks, down which tears were +slowly stealing, touched the feelings of Oscar. Moisture began to +gather in his eyes, in spite of himself. He tried to appear very much +interested in the food he was eating, and to look as though he was +indifferent to what his mother was saying. And, in a measure, he did +succeed in choking down those good feelings which were beginning to +stir in his heart, and which, mistaken boy! he thought it would be +unmanly to betray. + +Yes, he was mistaken--sadly mistaken. Unmanly to be touched by a +mother's grief, and to be moved by a mother's tender entreaties! +Unmanly to acknowledge that we have done wrong, or to express sorrow +for the wrong act! Unmanly to resolve to resist temptation in the +future! Where is this monstrous law of manliness to be found? If +anywhere, it must be only in the code of pirates and desperadoes, who +have renounced all human laws and ties. + +The school hour was at hand, and Oscar was obliged to start as soon as +he had finished his breakfast. Had he not stifled the better +promptings of his heart, and thus done violence to his nature, he would +not have left his mother without assuring her that he felt sorry for +his misconduct; for he _did_ feel some degree of regret, although he +was too proud to acknowledge it. His mother, however, saw some tokens +of feeling which he could not wholly conceal, and she left him with a +sad heart, but with the hope that at least some faint impression had +been made upon him. + +And, indeed, some impression was made upon Oscar's heart. The feeling +of sullenness with which he awoke, had subsided into something +resembling "low spirits." Nor was this all the effect his mother's +conversation had upon him. As he lay awake in the morning, he had +planned the secret destruction of a beautiful sled which had been given +to George, the winter previous, and which was very precious in the eyes +of the owner; but now he relinquished this mean and revengeful design. +Little George thus escaped the dreaded "after-clap," but he never knew +what a blow it would have been, nor how near he came to feeling its +full force. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE HOTEL. + +One of Oscar's most intimate companions was a boy of about his own age, +named Alfred Walton, who attended the same school with him. Alfred's +father was dead; but he had a step-father, whom he called father, and +with whom he lived. His home was to Oscar a very attractive one; for +it was a public house, and had large stables and a stage-office +attached, and was usually full of company. Alfred's step-father was +the landlord of the hotel, and of course he and his young friends were +privileged characters about the premises. Oscar and Alfred were +together a great deal of the time, when out of school, and quite a warm +friendship existed between them. On Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, +and during the other play hours of the week, Oscar might generally be +found about the hotel premises, or riding on the coaches with Alfred. +He only regretted that he could not stay there altogether; for he +thought it must be a fine thing to live in such a place, where he could +do pretty much as he pleased, without anybody's interference. Such, at +least, seemed to be the privilege of Alfred; for everybody, from his +step-father down to the humblest servants, appeared to have too much +other business on their hands to give much attention to his boyish +movements. + +Oscar made many acquaintances at the hotel, not a few of which were +anything but desirable for a boy of his age and character. He was on +chatty terms with all the stage-drivers, hostlers, and servants about +the premises, and also got acquainted with many strangers who stopped +there for a season. He was very fond of listening to the stories of +the drivers and other frequenters of the stage-office, and he would sit +by the hour, inhaling the smoke of their cigars, admiring their long +yarns, and laughing at the jokes they cracked. Much of this +conversation was coarse and even vulgar, such as a pure mind could not +listen to without suffering contamination, or at least a blunting of +its delicate sensibilities. It is a serious misfortune for a youth to +be exposed to such influences, but Oscar did not know it, or did not +believe it. + +Among the hangers about the stable, was a queer fellow who went by the +name of Andy. His real name was Anderson. He was weak-minded and +childish, his lack of intellect taking the form of silliness rather +than of stupidity. Indeed, he was bright and quick in his way, but it +was a very foolish and nonsensical way. He was famous among all the +boys of the neighborhood, for using strange and amusing words, and +especially for a system of spelling on which he prided himself, and +which is not laid down in any of the dictionaries. He afforded much +sport to the boys, who would gather around him, and give him words by +the dozen to spell. The readiness and ingenuity with which he would +mis-spell the most simple words, was quite amusing to them. He never +hesitated, nor stopped to think, but always spelt the given word in his +peculiar way, just as promptly as though he did it according to a rule +which he perfectly understood. + +One Saturday afternoon, as Oscar and Alfred were looking about the +stable, Andy suddenly made his appearance, and asked them for a bit of +tobacco. Both of the boys, by the way, wished to be considered +tobacco-chewers, and usually carried a good-sized piece of the vile +weed in their pockets, though it must be confessed that the little they +consumed was rather for appearance sake, than because they liked it. +They also smoked occasionally, for the same reason. + +"You must spell us a word or two, first," said Alfred, in reply to +Andy's request. + +"No, I can't stop--got important business to negotiate," replied Andy. + +"Yes, you must," continued Alfred; "spell fun." + +"P-h-u-g-n," said Andy. + +"Spell hotel," continued Alfred. + +"H-o-e-t-e-l-l-e." + +"Spell calculate," said Oscar. + +"K-a-l-k-e-w-l-a-i-g-h-t--there, that 'll do," continued Andy. + +"No, spell one more word--spell tobacco, and you shall have it," added +Alfred. + +"T-o-e-b-a-c-k-k-o-u-g-h--now hand over the 'baccy.'" + +"I have n't got any--have you, Oscar?" said Alfred + +Oscar fumbled in his pockets, but there was none to be found. + +"You mean, contemptible scalliwags!" exclaimed Andy, "why did n't you +tell me that before? You catch me in that trap again, if you can!" and +he walked off in a passion, amid the laughter of Oscar and Alfred. + +"Let's go and see the pups, Alf," said Oscar, after they had got done +laughing over the joke they had played upon Andy. + +Alfred's step-father had a fine dog of the hound species, with a litter +of cunning little pups. A bed had been made for her and the little +ones in a corner of the yard, adjoining the stable, with a rough +covering to shelter them from wind and storms. The pups were now +several weeks old. There were five of them, and a fat and frolicksome +set they were too. As the boys approached them, they were frisking and +capering as usual; tumbling and rolling over one another, climbing upon +the back of their mother, and pulling and barking at the straw. Their +mother, whose name was Bright, sat watching their gambols with a very +affectionate but sedate look. Perhaps she was wondering whether _she_ +was ever so mischievous and frisky as these little fellows were. When +the pups looked up and saw the boys, they stopped their fun for a time, +for they were not yet much accustomed to company. Bright, however, +knew both Alfred and Oscar; and as she was a dog of good education and +accomplished manners, she did not allow herself to be disconcerted in +the least by their presence. + +"You did n't know father had given all the pups but one to me, did you, +Oscar?" inquired Alfred. + +"No,--has he, though?" asked Oscar. + +"Yes, he has. I knew I could make him say yes, and so I teased him +till he did. He 's going to pick out one, to keep, and I 'm to have +all the rest." + +"That's first-rate," said Oscar; "and you 'll give me one, won't you?" + +"Yes, you may have one," replied Alfred; "but don't tell the boys I +gave it to you, for I mean to sell the others." + +"Then I 'll pay you for mine," continued Oscar; "I can get the money +out of father, I guess." + +"No, you shan't pay for it, for I meant you should have one of them, if +you wanted it," replied Alfred. + +"Thank you," said Oscar, "I should like one very much." + +After looking at the dogs awhile, and canvassing their respective +merits, they happened to notice that one of the drivers was about +starting off with his coach. + +"Halloo, Mack!" cried Alfred, "where are you going!" + +"To the depot," replied the driver. + +"Let's go, Oscar," said Alfred; and both boys ran for the coach, the +driver stopping until they had climbed up to his seat. + +A ride of five minutes brought them to the depot, where the driver +reined up, to await the arrival of a train, which was nearly due. Many +other carriages, of various kinds, were standing around the depot, for +the same purpose. Oscar and Alfred rambled about the building and +adjoining grounds, watching the operations that were going on; for +though they had witnessed the same operations many times before, there +is something quite attractive about such scenes, even to older heads +than theirs. On one track, within the depot, were six or eight cars, +beneath which a man was crawling along, carefully examining the running +gear, and giving each wheel two or three smart raps with a hammer, to +see if it had a clear and natural ring. These cars had lately arrived +from a distant city, and must undergo a careful scrutiny before they +are again used. If any break or flaw is discovered, the car is sent +out to the repair-shop. On another track, the men were making up the +next outward train. The particular baggage and passenger cars that +were to be used, had to be separated from the others, and arranged in +their proper order. Another track was kept clear, for the train that +was soon to arrive. Two or three locomotives, outside of the depot, +were fizzing and hissing, occasionally moving back or forward, with a +loud coughing noise, or changing from one track to another. + +The bell of the looked-for train was at length heard. The engine, as +it approached, was switched upon a side-track, but the cars, from which +it had been detached, kept on their course until the brakes brought +them to a stand in the depot. The passengers now swarmed forth by +hundreds--a curious and motley crowd of men, women, and children; +good-looking people, and ill-looking ones; the fine lady in silk, and +the rough backwoods-man in homespun; the middle-aged woman in black, +with three trunks and four bandboxes, and the smooth-faced dandy, whose +sole baggage was a slender cane. + +The cars were at length emptied of their living freight, and most of +the passengers had secured their baggage. Those who wished to ride, +had mostly engaged seats in the various hacks and coaches, whose +drivers accosted every passenger, as he got out of the cars, with their +invitations to "ride up." Alfred and Oscar now started to look after +the stage-coach in which they rode to the depot. They found it loaded +with passengers and baggage, and the driver was talking with two small +lads, of from twelve to thirteen years of age. + +"Here, Alf," said the driver, "you are just the fellow I want, but I +thought you had gone. These boys want to go to the hotel, but I have +n't room to take them. They say they had just as lief walk, and if you +'ll let them go with you, I 'll take their trunk along." + +This was readily agreed to. The driver made room for the trunk on the +top of the coach, and the young strangers started for the hotel, in +company with Alfred and Oscar. As they walked along, they grew quite +sociable. The two new-comers,--who, by the way, were quite respectable +in their appearance,--stated that they belonged in one of the cities of +Maine, and had never been in Boston before. They were brothers; and +both their parents being dead, they said they were on their way to the +west, where they had an uncle, who had sent for them to come and live +with him. They had a good many questions to ask about Boston, and said +they meant to look around the city some the next day, as they must +resume their journey on Monday. Alfred said he would go with them, and +show them the principal sights; and Oscar, too, would have gladly +volunteered, were it not that his father required him to go to church +and the Sabbath-school on that day, and to stay in the house when not +thus engaged. + +The boys had now reached the hotel, where the trunk had already +arrived. A room was appropriated to the young guests, and Alfred and +Oscar conducted them to it, and remained awhile in conversation with +them. By-and-bye, the oldest of the strangers asked Alfred if he would +go and show them where they could buy some good pistols. Alfred +readily agreed to this, and the four boys started off towards the shops +where such articles are sold. On their way through the crowded +streets, the new-comers found much to attract their attention. They +seemed inclined to stop at every shop window, to admire some object, +and it was nearly dark when they reached the place where they were to +make their purchase. Here, amid the variety of pistols that were +exhibited to them, they were for a time unable to decide which to +choose. At length, however, aided by the advice of Alfred and Oscar, +they picked out two that they concluded to buy. They also purchased a +quantity of powder and balls, and then desired to look at some dirks, +two of which they decided to take. Some fine pocket-knives next +arrested their attention, which were examined, and greatly admired by +all the boys. The oldest of the strangers, who did all the business, +concluded to take four of these, and then settled for all the articles +purchased. The bill was not very small, but his pocket-book was +evidently well supplied, and he paid it with out any difficulty. + +After they had left the store, the oldest boy gave Oscar and Alfred, +each, one of the pocket-knives, to pay them for their trouble, as he +expressed it. They were much pleased with their present, and felt very +well satisfied with their afternoon's adventure. They were a little +surprised, however, that their new friends should think it necessary to +invest so largely in weapons of defence; and on their hinting this +surprise, the boy who purchased the articles said, with a careless, +business-like air: + +"O, we 've got to travel a good many hundred miles, and there 's no +knowing what rough fellows we may fall in with. But give me a good +revolver and dirk, and I bet I will take care of myself, anywhere." + +The seriousness with which this brave language was uttered by a boy +scarcely yet in his teens, would have made even Alfred and Oscar smile, +but for the consciousness of the new knives in their pockets. + +It was now quite dark, and on coming to a street which led more +directly towards his home, Oscar left the other boys, with the promise +of seeing them again Monday morning. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE YOUNG TRAVELLERS. + +The Sabbath came, and a fine autumnal day it was. Oscar's thoughts +were with Alfred, and the boys whose acquaintance he had made the +afternoon previous; but there was little chance for him to join them in +their walks on that day. He could not absent himself from church or +the Sunday-school, without his parents' knowledge; and Mr. Preston had +always decidedly objected to letting the children stroll about the +streets on the Sabbath. Oscar felt so uneasy, however, that in the +afternoon, a little while before meeting-time, he left the house slyly, +while his father was upstairs, and walked around to Alfred's. But he +saw nothing of the boys, and was in his accustomed seat in the church +when the afternoon services commenced. + +The next morning, Oscar rose earlier than usual, and as soon as he +could despatch his breakfast, he hurried over to the hotel. The +travellers had concluded to defer their journey one day longer, that +they might have a better opportunity to see Boston; and when Oscar +approached them, they were trying to persuade Alfred to stay away from +school, and accompany them in their rambles. They immediately extended +the same invitation to Oscar. Both he and Alfred felt very much +inclined to accede to their proposition, but they were pretty sure that +it would be useless to ask their parents' consent to absent themselves +from school for such a purpose. The point to be settled was, whether +it would be safe to play truant for the day. Seeing that they +hesitated, the oldest boy, whose name was Joseph, began to urge the +matter still more earnestly. + +"What are you afraid of?" he said; "come along, it's no killing affair +to stay away from school just for one day. You can manage so that +nobody will know it; and if they should find it out, it won't make any +difference a hundred years hence. Come, now, I 'll tell you what I 'll +do; if you two will go around with us to-day, I 'll give you a quarter +of a dollar apiece." + +Oscar and Alfred, after some little hesitation, yielded to their +request, and the four boys started on their tramp. It was not without +many misgivings, however, that Oscar decided to accompany them. With +him, the chances of detection were much greater than with Alfred. No +brothers of the latter attended school, to notice and report his +absence. With Oscar, the case was different, and he did not see +exactly how his truancy was to be concealed from his parents and +teachers. But as Alfred was going with the boys, he finally concluded +that he, too, would run the risk for at least half a day, and trust to +luck to escape punishment. + +It was decided to go over to the neighboring city of Charlestown, +first, and visit the Monument and Navy-Yard, both of which the young +strangers were quite anxious to see. Joseph, the oldest and most +forward, began to be on quite intimate terms with Oscar and Alfred. He +threw off every restraint, and laughed and talked with them just as if +they were old acquaintances. One thing very noticeable about him, was +his profanity. Neither Alfred nor Oscar, I am sorry to say, was +entirely free from this wicked and disgusting habit; but they had made +so little advance in this vice, compared with their new friend, that +even they were slightly shocked by the frequent and often startling +oaths of Joseph. + +The younger lad, whose name was Stephen, appeared to be quite unlike +his brother. Though sociable, he was less gay and more reserved than +Joseph, but he seemed to be much interested in the novel sights that +met his eye at every step. + +On their way, the boys came to a cellar which was occupied by a dealer +in fruits and other refreshments. Around the entrance were arranged +numerous boxes of oranges, apples, nuts, candy, and similar articles, +to tempt the passer-by to stop and purchase. The owner was not in +sight, and Joseph, as he passed along, boldly helped himself from one +of the boxes, taking a good hand-full of walnuts. On looking around, a +moment after, he saw a man running up the cellar steps, and concluded +that he, too, had better quicken his pace. He accordingly started on a +brisk run, the other boys joining in his flight. The man, who happened +to witness the theft from the back part of the cellar, soon saw that +pursuit would be useless, and contented himself with shaking his fist, +and uttering some anathemas which were inaudible to those for whom they +were intended. + +"That was a pretty narrow escape, was n't it?" said Joseph, after they +had got a safe distance from the man. + +"It was so," replied Alfred; "and it was lucky for you that he did n't +catch you." + +"Why, what do you suppose he would have done?" + +"He would have taken you up for stealing, I guess, for he looked mad +enough to do anything," said Alfred. + +"Stealing? Pooh, a man must be a fool to make such a fuss about a +cent's-worth of nuts," replied Joseph. + +"I knew a boy," said Oscar, "who stole a cake of maple sugar from one +of these stands, and his father had to pay two or three dollars to get +him out of the scrape." + +"I would n't have done it," said Joseph; "I 'd have gone to jail +first--that 's just my pluck." + +"But the boy did n't do it--it was his father that paid the money," +added Oscar. + +"O, then, I suppose the boy was n't to blame," said Joseph, with all +seriousness; as though he really believed that somebody was to blame, +not for stealing the maple sugar, but for satisfying the man who had +been injured by the theft. + +They were now upon one of the bridges which cross Charles River, and +connect the cities of Boston and Charlestown. After passing half-way +over, they stopped a few minutes to gaze at the scene spread out around +them. Oscar and Alfred pointed out to the strangers the various +objects of interest, and they then continued their walk without +interruption until they reached the Monument grounds, on Bunker Hill. +After examining the noble granite shaft which commemorates the first +great battle of the American Revolution, they threw themselves down +upon the grass, to contemplate at their leisure the fine panorama which +this hill affords on a clear day. + +After lingering half an hour around the Monument, they turned their +steps towards the Navy-Yard. On reaching it, they found a soldier +slowly pacing back and forth, in front of the gate-way; but he made no +objection to their entering. Joseph and Stephen, who had never before +visited an establishment of this kind, were first struck by the extent +of the yard, and the air of order and neatness which seemed everywhere +to prevail. They gazed with curiosity upon the long rows of iron +cannons interspersed with pyramids of cannon-balls, piled up in exact +order, which were spread out upon the parks. Then their wonder was +excited by the dry-dock, with its smooth granite walls, its massive +gates, and its capacious area, sufficient to float the largest frigate. +The lofty ship-houses in which vessels are constructed, and the long +stone rope-walk, with its curious machinery, also attracted their +attention. So interested were they in these things, that nearly two +hours elapsed before they started for home. + +On their way back to the hotel, Joseph entertained Alfred and Oscar +with some incidents of his life. His mother, he said, died when he was +quite young. His father went to sea as the captain of a ship, two +years before, and had never been heard from. He had rich relatives, +who wanted him to go to West Point and be a cadet, but he did not like +to study, and had persuaded them to let him and Stephen go and live +with their uncle at the west, who had no boys of his own, and wanted +somebody to help him to manage his immense farm. Such, in brief, was +Joseph's story. + +On their return route, the boys were careful to avoid passing by the +cellar from which Joseph had stolen the nuts. With all his pluck and +bravery, he did not care about meeting the man whose displeasure he had +excited a few hours before. + +It was twelve o'clock before the boys reached the hotel. Oscar, during +the latter part of the walk, had been unusually silent. He was +thinking how he should manage to conceal his truancy, but he could not +hit upon any satisfactory plan. The more he reflected upon the matter, +the more he was troubled and perplexed about it. He might possibly +hide his mis-spent forenoon from his parents, but how should he explain +his absence to his teachers? He could not tell. He decided, however, +to see his brothers before they should get home from school, and, if +they had noticed his absence, to prevail upon them to say nothing about +it. + +"You 'll be back again after dinner, Oscar?" said Alfred, as his friend +started for home. + +"Yes," replied Oscar, with some hesitation; "I 'll see you before +school-time." + +"School-time? You don't intend to go to school this afternoon, do +you?" inquired Alfred. + +Oscar did not reply, but hastened homeward. He soon found Ralph and +George, but as neither of them spoke of his absence from school, he +concluded that they were ignorant of it, and he therefore made no +allusion to the subject. + +After dinner, Oscar had about half an hour to spend with Alfred; for he +felt so uneasy in his mind, that he had decided not to absent himself +from school in the afternoon. He had gone but a short distance when he +met his comrade, who had started in pursuit of him. + +"Well," said Alfred, "we 've been taken in nicely, that's a fact." + +"Taken in--what do you mean?" inquired Oscar. + +"Why, by those young scamps that we 've been showing around town." + +"I thought they told great stories," said Oscar; "but what have you +found out about them?" + +"I 've found out that they are the greatest liars I ever came +across--or at least that the oldest fellow is," replied Alfred; and he +then went on to relate what transpired immediately after Oscar left +them, on their return from Charlestown. The landlord, it seems, +requested the two strange boys to step into one of the parlors; and +Alfred, not understanding the order, accompanied them. They found two +men seated there, the sight of whom seemed anything but pleasant to +Joseph and Stephen. These men were their fathers--for the boys were +not brothers, and Joseph's account of their past life and future +prospects was entirely false. They had run away from home, and the +money which they had so profusely spent, Joseph stole from his father. +The men, who had been put to much trouble in hunting up their wayward +sons, did not greet them very cordially. They looked stern and +offended, but said little. Joseph was obliged to deliver up his money +to his father, and they immediately made preparations for returning +home by the afternoon train. + +"Well," said Oscar, when Alfred had concluded his story, "I did n't +believe all that boy said, at the time, but I thought I would n't say +so." + +"Nor I, neither," said Alfred. "I guess he did n't expect his father's +ship would arrive so suddenly, when he tried to stuff us up so." + +"Did your father know you went off with them in the forenoon?" inquired +Oscar. + +"Yes, but he did n't care much about it. He told me I must go to +school this afternoon, and not stay away again without leave." + +The rules of the school required a written note of excuse from the +parents, in case of absence. Neither of the boys was furnished with +such an excuse, and after a little consultation, they concluded that +their chances of escaping punishment would be greatest, if they should +frankly confess how they had been duped and led astray by the young +rogues whose acquaintance they had so suddenly and imprudently formed. +They supposed that the peculiar circumstances of the case, coupled with +a voluntary confession, might excite some degree of sympathy, rather +than displeasure, towards them. To make the matter doubly sure, it was +arranged that Alfred should speak to the master about the matter before +school commenced. + +When the boys reached the school-room, they found the master already at +his desk. He listened with interest to Alfred's story of the runaways, +and was evidently pleased that he had so frankly confessed his fault. +As the hour for commencing the afternoon session had arrived, he told +Alfred and Oscar they might stop after school, and he would take their +case into consideration. + +The afternoon passed away, without any unusual occurrence. When school +was dismissed, the teacher called Alfred and Oscar to his desk, and +gave them some excellent advice in regard to forming acquaintances, and +yielding to the solicitations of evil associates. He told them that +the deception which had been practiced upon them, should serve as a +lesson to them hereafter. They should not form sudden acquaintances +with strange and unknown boys, but should choose their associates from +among those whom they knew to be of good habits. He also earnestly +cautioned them against yielding to the enticements of those who would +persuade them to do wrong. He told them that whenever they laid the +blame of their faults upon others, they made a sad confession of their +own moral weakness. They must often encounter temptations, and evil +examples and influences, even if they took pains to avoid them; but +they were not obliged to yield to these influences. They must learn to +resist temptation, or they would speedily be swept away before it. + +Having faithfully pointed out their error and danger, the teacher +dismissed the boys. They listened respectfully to his advice, and, +when they were beyond his hearing, chuckled over their escape from a +species of admonition that might have proved far more feeling and +affecting, if not more salutary, than the kindly-meant reproof which +had been administered to them. The leniency of the teacher, however, +must be attributed to his not fully understanding the character of +their offence; for Alfred had so artfully represented the facts of the +case, as to make their truancy appear in a milder light than it +deserved to be regarded. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WORK. + +"Oscar, go down cellar and get some coal," said Mrs. Preston one +evening, when the fire was getting low. + +"I 'm reading--you go and get it, Ralph," said Oscar, without looking +up from the newspaper in his hand. + +"No, I shan't," replied Ralph; "I 've done all your chores to-day, and +I won't do any more." + +"Tell Bridget to bring it up, then," added Oscar, his eyes still +fastened upon his paper. + +"Oscar," said Mrs. Preston, sharply, "I told you to get it, and do you +obey me, this minute. Bridget has worked hard all day, and Ralph has +already had to do several errands and jobs that you ought to have done, +and that is the reason why I did not ask them to get the coal. You +have done nothing but play, when you were out of school, since morning, +and now, when I ask you to do a trifling thing, you try to shirk it +upon somebody else. I do wish you would break yourself of your +laziness, and have a little consideration for other people." + +Oscar reluctantly obeyed his mother's order. Indeed, it was seldom +that he was very prompt to obey, when any kind of labor was required of +him. He had a peculiar knack of getting rid of work. If he was +directed to do a thing, he was almost sure to try to coax Alice, or +Ella, or Ralph, or Bridget, or somebody else, to do it for him. He +never taxed his own legs, or hands, or muscles, when he could make use +of other people's. This lazy habit was a source of no small anxiety to +his mother, and was a constant annoyance to all the family. + +"Well, you did make out to get it," said Mrs. Preston, in a pleasant +tone, when Oscar returned with the coal. "I hope it did n't hurt you +much." + +"I was n't afraid of its hurting me," said Oscar "but I was reading, +and did n't want to stop." + +"I am afraid that is only an excuse," replied his mother. "It has +really got to be a habit with you to call upon somebody else, whenever +you are told to do a thing. We have all noticed it, a hundred times, +and you alone seem to be blind to it. In a year or two, when you are +old enough to leave school, and go to a place, what do you suppose you +will be good for, if you keep on in this way? Why, the man who should +take you into his employ, would have to hire another boy on purpose to +wait upon you." + +"It is just as mother says, Oscar," added his eldest sister, Alice. +"It was only this morning that Bridget was scolding, because you wanted +to be waited upon so much. She says you make her more trouble than all +the rest of us together." + +Oscar could not deny these charges, and so he said nothing, but +appeared to be reading his newspaper very intently. Mr. Preston came +in soon after, and the family sat down to tea. + +"Oscar," said Mr. Preston, "next week is vacation, is it not?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar. + +"Well, I shall want you in the store a part of the time," continued his +father. "Frank is going home to spend Thanksgiving, and as it will be +a busy week with us, we must have somebody to take his place." + +"Why can't Henry do the errands while Frank is away?" inquired Oscar. + +"Because Henry will have as much other work as he can attend to," +replied Mr. Preston. + +"I don't see why you let Frank go off at such a time," said Oscar, +pettishly. + +"It is not necessary that you should see," replied his father. "I can +manage my business without any advice from you, and I don't want you to +call me to account for what I do. I have given Frank a vacation, and I +shall expect assistance from you--that is all it is necessary for you +to know about it." + +Frank was the errand-boy in Mr. Preston's shop. Henry, upon whom Oscar +wished to lay the burden occasioned by Frank's absence, was a young +clerk, who had formerly served as chore-boy, but was now quite useful +as a salesman. + +It was evident, from Oscar's looks, that he did not much relish the +idea of taking Frank's place for a week. His mother, noticing this, +said: + +"Why, Oscar, I thought you and Frank were good friends, and I should +suppose you would be willing to relieve him a few days. The poor boy +has been away from his mother nearly a year, and it is natural that he +should want to go home and spend Thanksgiving. If you were in his +place, and he in yours, don't you think you should like the arrangement +your father proposes?" + +"I suppose I should," replied Oscar; "but it's hard for me to lose my +vacation, for the sake of letting him have one." + +"You will not lose all your vacation," said his father "If you are +lively, you can do all I shall want you to do in four or five hours, +and have the rest of the day to yourself." + +"And I 'll help you, too," said Ralph, who was always ready to offer +his assistance in such a case as this. + +"Thanksgiving week" soon arrived, and the busy note of preparation for +the approaching festival was heard throughout the house. Bridget was +invested with a new dignity, in the eyes of the children, as she +bustled about among the mince-meat and the pie-crust, the eggs and the +milk, the fruit and the spices, that were to be compounded into all +sorts of good things. The house was filled with savory odors from the +oven, and long rows of pies began to fill up every vacant space in the +closet. Mrs. Preston was busy, superintending the operations of the +household; while Alice and Ella rendered such assistance as they could, +in the chopping of pie-meat, the paring of apples, the picking of +raisins, &c. The boys, for their share, had an unusual number of +errands to run, to keep the busy hands inside supplied with working +materials. Oscar, however, was released for the week from all home +chores, in consideration of his engagements at the store. + +Oscar did not find his duties as temporary store-boy quite so irksome +or disagreeable as he anticipated. The work was light, and the novelty +of it served to offset the confinement, which he had dreaded more than +anything else. With some assistance from Ralph, he managed to do all +that was required of him, and still have several hours each day for +play. He also had an opportunity to learn some useful lessons during +the week. + +One morning, his father sent him up-stairs to sweep out a room which +was devoted to a certain branch of the business. Happening to go into +it an hour or two after, Mr. Preston observed that it was in a dirty +state, and called to Oscar to get a broom and sprinkler, and come up. + +"I told you to sweep this room out," said he, as Oscar made his +appearance; "did you forget it?" + +"I _have_ swept it," said Oscar, in a tone of surprise. + +"You have?" exclaimed Mr. Preston, with an air of incredulity; "I guess +you are mistaken. You may have shaken the broom at it, but I don't +think you swept it. See there--and there--and there,"--and he pointed +out numerous little heaps of dirt, and scraps of paper, which had +escaped Oscar's broom. "Now," he continued, "let me show you how to +sweep. In the first place, always sprinkle the floor a little, to +prevent the dust flying, as I told you a day or two ago. You omitted +that this morning, did n't you?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar. + +"Well, just remember it hereafter, for the dust injures the goods. +There 's water enough, now pass me the broom, and I 'll show you how to +handle it. Look, now--that 's the way to sweep--get all the dirt out +from the corners and crevices, and along the edges, and under the +counters. Use the broom as though you meant to do something, and were +not afraid of it. There, that 's the way to sweep clean--so--and so," +and Mr. Preston continued his explanations and illustrations, until he +had swept the entire floor. + +"There, now, does n't that look better?" he added, after he had +finished sweeping. "If a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth +doing well--that's the true doctrine, Oscar. I hope you won't get in +the habit of making half-way work with whatever you undertake. If I +never expected to do anything but sweep chimneys or dig clams for a +living, I would do it thoroughly and faithfully. Of all things, I +despise a lazy, slovenly workman." + +It was a very common thing with Oscar to slight his work, when he could +not get rid of it entirely. This was partly the result of a want of +interest in it, and partly the result of habit. The child who performs +a task reluctantly, will not be very likely to do it well. + +The day before Thanksgiving, as Oscar was on his way to the store, +after dinner, he met Alfred Walton. + +"You 're just the chap I 'm after, Oscar," said Alfred; "I'm going out +to Cambridge, all alone in a wagon, and I want you to go with me. +Come, jump in and go, won't you?" + +This was a tempting invitation to Oscar, but he did not see how he +could accept it. He was needed at the store more than ever, that +afternoon, but it was too bad to lose such a fine chance to enjoy +himself. Alfred was in a hurry, and could not stop long for him to +consider the matter. So he concluded to run home, and ask his father's +permission, while Alfred went and got the horse ready. But when he got +home, his father had left. He found Ralph, however, who readily agreed +to take his place at the store, for the afternoon; and on the strength +of this arrangement, he hurried to the hotel and rode off with Alfred. + +It was a mild, pleasant afternoon, and the boys had a fine ride. +Alfred had been among horses so much, that he understood their +management pretty well, and was a very good driver. He prided himself +on his ability to turn a neat corner, and to steer through the +narrowest and most crooked passage-ways, such as abound in the +contracted and crowded streets of a city. When they reached the broad +avenues of Cambridge, he allowed Oscar to take the reins awhile, at his +request. + +Alfred's step-father had been out to Cambridge, in the forenoon of the +same day, and had purchased a horse at the cattle-market which is held +weekly at that place. As he was obliged to return home by the cars, he +left word that he would send out for the horse, in the afternoon. This +was Alfred's errand. After several inquiries, the boys found the man +who sold the horse. Having examined the new purchase, and freely +expressed their opinions of the animal's "points," they hitched his +halter to the wagon, and set out for home. + +The sun was rapidly descending, when the boys reached the hotel stable. +Oscar, who felt somewhat uneasy about his absence from the store, +turned his steps in that direction, soon after he alighted from the +wagon. He found all hands very busy, and for a long time no one +appeared to notice him. At length his father happened to come to the +part of the shop where he was, and asked him where he had been all the +afternoon. Oscar proceeded to explain the cause of his absence, but +Mr. Preston was in too much of a hurry to listen to his long excuses, +and so he cut him short, and told him, in not very pleasant tones, that +Ralph had done the work, and he (Oscar) might go home again, just as +soon as he pleased--a privilege of which he quickly availed himself. + +At the tea-table, that evening, Mr. Preston expressed his displeasure +with Oscar's conduct in very pointed terms. Oscar now explained the +circumstances of his going away--his attempt to get his father's +consent, and the promise of Ralph to supply his place. But the +explanation did not satisfy Mr. Preston. He said Oscar knew he was +needed that afternoon, and he ought not to have asked to go away, or +even to have thought of it. Even if Ralph was willing to do his work, +he did not like his putting so much upon his younger and weaker +brother. He then complimented Ralph for his industry, and his +willingness to make himself useful, and held him up to Oscar as a +pattern he would do well to imitate. He concluded his lecture to the +latter, by drawing from his pocket a quarter of a dollar, and +presenting it to Ralph, as a reward for his services. This touched +Oscar's feelings rather more than his father's reproofs. He thought to +himself that he had performed as much work in the store as Ralph, to +say the least, and was therefore as much entitled to a reward as he. +There was this difference, however, which he entirely overlooked: Oscar +did his share of the work reluctantly and from compulsion; Ralph did +his cheerfully and voluntarily, and solely for the purpose of making +himself useful. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THANKSGIVING-DAY. + +Thanksgiving-Day had come. Among the multitude of good things it +brought with it, not the least important, in the eyes of the children, +was a visit from their grandmother, Mrs. Lee, who arrived the evening +previous. She was the mother of Mrs. Preston, and lived in a distant +town in Vermont. She had not visited the family for several years, and +the children and their parents were all very glad to see her once more. +She was much surprised to find how the young folks had grown since she +last saw them. Alice had shot up into a young lady, Oscar, who she +remembered as "a little bit of a fellow," was a tall boy, Ella, too, +was quite a miss, and Georgie, "the baby," had long since exchanged his +frock for the jacket, trowsers, and boots, of boyhood. All these +changes had happened since their grandmother's last visit; and yet she +was just the same pleasant, talkative old lady that she was years ago. +The children could not discover that time had left so much as one new +wrinkle on her well-remembered face. + +[Illustration: Thanksgiving Market Scene.] + +After breakfast, their grandmother proceeded to unpack her trunk. From +its capacious depths she drew forth sundry articles,--specimens of her +own handiwork,--which she distributed among the children, as gifts. +They were all articles of utility, such as warm, "country-knit" mittens +and socks for the boys, and tippets and stockings for the girls. A +large bag filled with nuts, and another of pop-corn, were also among +the contents of the trunk, and were handed to the children to be +divided among them. + +In accordance with an agreement made the day before, Oscar soon left +the house, and went in search of Alfred. Having found him, they set +out for South Boston, in company with two or three boys, to witness a +shooting-match got up by a man who worked about the stable. The spot +selected for the sport was a retired field, where there was little +danger of being interrupted. On reaching the ground, the boys found a +small collection of young men and lads already engaged in the cruel +amusement; for the mark was a live fowl, tied to a stake. The company +assembled were of a decidedly low order, and Oscar at first felt almost +ashamed to be seen among them. Smoking, swearing, betting, and +quarrelling, were all going on at once, interspersed with occasional +shouts of laughter at some vulgar joke, or at the fluttering and cries +of a wounded fowl. Sometimes a poor chicken would receive several +shots, before its misery would be terminated by a fatal one. When one +fowl was killed, a fresh one was brought forth. Each man who fired at +the mark, paid a trifling sum for the privilege, and was entitled to +the fowl, if he killed it. + +Oscar and his young companions lingered around the grounds for an hour +or two, familiarizing themselves with scenes of shameful cruelty, and +breathing an atmosphere loaded with pollution and moral death. The +repugnance which Oscar at first felt to the party and its doings was so +far overcome, that before he left he himself fired one or two shots, +with a rifle which was lent to him. + +Oscar reached home before the hour for dinner. As he entered the +sitting-room, his mother, who had missed him, inquired where he had +been all the forenoon. + +"I 've been with Alf," he replied. + +His mother did not notice this evasion of her question, but added: + +"Why do you want to be with Alfred so much? It seems to me you might +find better company. I 'm afraid he is not so good a boy as he might +be. I don't like his looks very much." + +"Why, mother," said Oscar, "Alf is n't a bad boy, and I never heard +anybody say he was. I like him first-rate--he 's a real clever fellow." + +"He may be clever enough, but I do not think he is a very good +associate for you," replied Mrs. Preston. + +"Who ought to know best about that, you or I?" said Oscar, with a +pertness for which he was becoming a little too notorious. "I see Alf +every day, but you don't know hardly anything about him. At my rate, I +'ll risk his hurting me." + +Oscar's grandmother looked at him with astonishment, as he uttered +these words. He felt the silent rebuke, and turned his head from her. + +"Well," added Mrs. Preston, "if Alfred is not a bad boy himself, I do +not believe that the kind of people you spend so much of your time +with, around the hotel-stable, will do either you or him any good. The +lessons a boy learns among tavern loungers do not generally make him +any better, to say the least. I wish you would keep away from such +places--I should feel a good deal easier if you would." + +The subject was dropped, and dinner,--the event of Thanksgiving-day, in +every New England home,--soon began to engross the attention of the +household. It was a pleasant feast, to old and young. The children +forgot all their little, fanciful troubles, and the traces of care were +chased from their parents' brows for the hour. + +The afternoon was stormy, and the children amused themselves with +in-door sports. After tea, however, Oscar asked his father for some +money, to buy a ticket to an entertainment that was to take place in +the evening. But both his parents thought he had better stay at home, +with the rest of the family, and he reluctantly yielded to their +wishes, coupled with the promise of a story or two from his +grandmother, about old times. + +A cheerful fire was burning in the grate, when the family returned to +the parlor, from the tea-table. The lamps were not yet lit, although +the gray twilight was fast settling down, and the ruddy coals began to +reflect themselves from the polished furniture. Mrs. Preston was about +to light the lamps, when Ella exclaimed: + +"No, no, mother, don't light the lamps--let's sit in the dark awhile, +and then grandmother's stories will seem twice as romantic. You don't +want a light, do you, grandmother?" + +"No," said the grandmother, "I can talk just as well in the dark. But +I don't know as I can tell you any very interesting stories. I can't +think of anything now but what you have already heard. That's just the +way when I want to tell a story. If I was all alone, I should think of +lots of things to tell you." + +"Can't you tell us something about the Indians?--I like to hear about +them," said Oscar. + +"You would like to know how they served naughty boys, would n't you?" +inquired his grandmother; and if the room had not been quite so dark, +Oscar would have seen something like a roguish twinkle in her sober +gray eye, as she spoke. + +"O yes, grandmother," interrupted Ella, "that will suit him, I know. +At any rate, it ought to interest him--so please to tell us what they +did to their bad boys, and perhaps we shall learn how to serve Oscar." + +"And while you are about it, grandmother," said Oscar, "tell us what +they did to naughty girls, too." + +"I don't know how they punished girls," said the old lady; "but I have +heard it said that when they wished to punish a boy very severely, they +made him lie down on the ground, upon his back. They then put their +knees on his arms, and held his head back, while they took into their +mouth some very bitter stuff, made from the roots of a certain plant, +and squirted it into the boy's nose. They kept repeating the dose, +till the poor fellow was almost strangled, and I suppose by that time +he was cured of his fault." + +"Pooh, was that all?" said Oscar; "I thought something terrible was +coming." + +"I guess you would not like to try the Indian remedy more than once," +replied his mother; "but if you think it is so pleasant to take, +perhaps your father will give you a taste of it, one of these days, if +you do not behave better than you have done of late." + +"Did you ever get frightened by the Indians, grandmother?" inquired +Ralph. + +"No," replied the old lady; "there were plenty of them around, when I +was a little girl, but they had got to be quite civil, and we were not +afraid of them. I wish I could remember all the stories my mother used +to tell me about them--they were plenty and troublesome, too, in her +day. I recollect one fight that took place in our neighborhood, when +she was young. One evening, a man who was returning from another +settlement, happened to discover a party of Indians, making their way +very quietly up the river in their canoes, towards our little village. +He watched their movements as narrowly as possible, but was careful not +to let them see or hear him. When they got within about half a mile of +the settlement, they pulled their canoes ashore, and concealed them +among the bushes. They meant to creep along very slowly and slily, the +rest of the way, and then fall suddenly upon the whites, and murder and +plunder them before they could know what the matter was. But the man +who discovered them hurried on to the settlement, and gave the alarm. +Ten men was all he could muster, for there were but a few families in +the town. These men armed themselves, and by the time they were ready +for action, the Indians had already begun their work of plunder. + +"But the Indians were not cunning enough for the white folks, that +time. The settlers formed themselves into two parties--one of seven +and one of three men. The three men went down very cautiously to the +Indian's landing-place, and after cutting slits in their bark canoes, +they hid themselves, and awaited the result. While they were doing +this, the other party made such a furious and sudden attack upon the +enemy, that the Indians thought they were assailed by a force far +superior to their own, and so they fled as fast as they could. When +they reached the landing-place, they jumped pell-mell into their +canoes, and pushed out into the stream. Now they thought they would +soon be out of the reach of harm; but, to their astonishment, the +canoes began to fill with water, and were entirely unmanageable. The +three men in ambush now began to attack them, and pretty soon the other +seven came to their aid, and in a little while the Indians were all +shot or drowned, and not one of the party escaped, to inform their +kindred what had befallen them. The stream on which this happened is +called Laplot River. Laplot, they say, means 'the plot,' and a good +many people think the river got its name from the stratagem of the +settlers, but I don't know how that is." + +After musing awhile in silence, Ralph called for another story. + +"Let me see," said his grandmother; "did I ever tell you about Widow +Storey's retreat, in the Revolution!" + +"No ma'am," said Oscar; "I've read about General Burgoyne's retreat; +but I never heard of Widow Storey before: who was she?" + +"O, it was n't that kind of a retreat that I meant," said his +grandmother; "but I will tell you who she was. She lived in Salisbury, +some twenty or thirty miles from where I belong. Her husband was the +first man who settled in Salisbury, but he was very unfortunate. After +he had worked hard, and got a log cabin ready for his family, it took +fire, and was destroyed; and he himself was killed by the fall of a +tree, soon after. But his widow was a very smart woman; and though she +had eight or ten small children, she moved on to the place her husband +had selected; and the proprietors of the township gave her a hundred +acres of land to encourage and reward her. She worked just like a man, +and didn't mind chopping down trees, and cultivating the soil, with her +own hands. But by-and-bye the Revolution broke out, and as there were +British soldiers in the neighborhood, she was afraid they would make +her a visit. She fled several times to another town, where there was +less danger; but after awhile a new idea entered her head, and she +proceeded to carry it out, with the aid of a man who lived near her. +The idea was, to construct a hiding-place, where the British could not +find them, if they should pay her a visit. They selected a spot on +Otter Creek, and dug a hole right into the bank, horizontally. The +hole was a little above the water, and was just large enough for a +person to crawl into. It was so covered up by bushes that hung from +the bank, that a stranger would not notice it. This passage led to a +large lodging-room, the bottom of which was covered with straw. Good +comfortable beds were prepared, and here the families found a secure +retreat, until the danger was past." + +"That was complete," said Oscar; "but I should think the British might +have tracked them to their retreat, for it's likely they had to go home +pretty often, to get food, and look after things." + +"Yes," added his grandmother; "but they reached their retreat by a +canoe, so that no footsteps could be seen leading to it; and they were +careful not to go out or in during the day-time. I have heard my +brother James tell about it. I believe he saw the very hole once, +where they went in." + +"Uncle James was a famous hand for telling stories," remarked Mrs. +Preston. "I shall never forget what a treat it was to me, when I was a +child, to have him come to our house. I used to run out and meet him, +when I saw him coming, and coax him to tell me a good lot of stories +before he went off. I can remember some of them even now. He used to +tell a story of a crabbed old fellow, who was very much annoyed by the +boys stealing his apples. So, after awhile, he got a spring-trap, and +set it under the trees, to catch the young rogues. But the boys got +wind of the affair, and the first night he set it, they picked it up, +and very quietly put it on his door-step, and then went back to the +orchard, and began to bellow as though they were in great distress. +The old man heard the uproar, and started out, in high glee at the idea +of catching his tormentors; but he hardly put his foot out of the door, +before he began to roar himself, and he was laid up a month with a sore +leg." + +"That was old Zigzag," said the grandmother; "I knew him very well." + +"Old Zigzag!--what a funny name!" exclaimed Ralph. + +"That was n't his name, although he always went by it," added the old +lady. "He was a very odd character, and one of his peculiarities was, +that he never walked directly towards any place or object he wished to +reach, but went in a 'criss-cross,' zigzag way, like a ship beating and +tacking before a head-wind. He was a hard drinker, and was almost +continually under the influence of liquor, and perhaps that was the +cause of his singular habit. He was a terribly ugly fellow, when he +was mad, and the boys used to tease him in every possible way; but wo +to them if he got hold of them. He lived all alone, for he never had +any wife or children; and he would not allow anybody to enter his +house, on any account, but always kept the door locked. If his +neighbors had business to transact with him, he would step into the +yard and attend to them; but even in the severest weather, he would not +let them cross his threshold. He never would speak to or look at a +woman, and would always avoid meeting them, if possible. Poor fellow, +he had a dreadful end. He was missing for several days, and at last +some of the town's-people broke into his house, and found him dead, +with his head badly burned. They supposed he was intoxicated, and +fell, striking his head upon the andiron, which stunned him; and while +he lay helpless, he was so badly burned that he soon died. And that +was the last of poor old Zigzag." + +"There was another story Uncle James used to tell, about the naming of +Barre, in Vermont; do you recollect it, mother?" inquired Mrs. Preston. + +"Yes, indeed, and I 've heard old Dr. Paddock tell it many a time. He +was there, and saw it all. The people did n't like the name of their +town, which was Wildersburgh, and determined to have a new one, and so +they met together in town-meeting, to talk the matter over. One of the +leading men came from Barre, Massachusetts, and he wanted the town to +take that name. Another prominent citizen came from Holden, +Massachusetts, and he insisted that the town should be called Holden. +The people liked both of these names well enough, and it was finally +determined that the question should be decided by a game of boxing, +between these two men. So the meeting adjourned to a new barn, with a +rough hemlock plank floor, and the contest commenced. After boxing +awhile, one of them threw the other upon the floor, and sprang upon him +at full length; but the one who was underneath dealt his blows so +skilfully, that his opponent soon gave in; and rolling the Holden man +out of the way, he jumped up and shouted, 'There, the name is Barre!' +and Barre it hasten, to this day. The next day, the man who won this +victory had to call on the doctor to extract from his back the hemlock +splinters he had received while struggling on the barn floor." + +Thus the evening was beguiled with stories, mingled with a few songs by +Alice and Ella, and a few favorite airs upon the piano-forte. Before +the hour of retiring arrived, even Oscar was quite reconciled to the +loss of the evening's entertainment away from home which he had +promised himself. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +GRANDMOTHER LEE. + +Mrs. Lee, the grandmother of the Preston children, remained with the +family for several weeks, after Thanksgiving. Her visit was, on the +whole, a pleasant one, though there were some shadows thoughtlessly +cast over it by the children. Age had somewhat impaired her sense of +hearing, but yet she always wanted to understand everything that was +said in her presence. Often, when the children were talking to each +other in a low tone, she would ask them what they were saying. Ella +did not like these interruptions, and was the first to complain of them. + +"O dear," said she, one day, "I do wonder what makes grandmother so +inquisitive. I really believe she thinks we are talking about her all +the time. I can't open my mouth, but she wants to know what I said. +Don't you think she is getting childish, Alice?" + +"Why, Ella!" exclaimed Alice, in astonishment, "I should think you +would be ashamed to speak so of your poor old grandmother. What do you +think mother would say if she knew what you said!" + +"I can't help it," replied Ella; "I don't see why grandmother need be +so curious about every little thing that's said. I mean to ask her +some time when I have a good chance." + +"I should think you had better, Miss Impudence," said Alice; "perhaps +she would like to have you give her some lessons in good behavior." + +Alice did not for a moment suppose that her sister meant to speak to +their grandmother upon this subject. But she had miscalculated the +pertness of Ella. A day or two after this, as several of the children +were talking among themselves, the attention of the old lady was +arrested. She could not hear distinctly what they said, but Oscar took +a prominent part in the conversation; and a moment after, on his +leaving the room, she asked Ella what he wanted. + +"O, it was n't anything that you care about, grandma'am," replied Ella. + +"Is that the way your mother teaches you to answer questions, Ella?" +inquired Mrs. Lee, in a mild, reproachful tone. + +"No, no, grandmother," replied Alice, with considerable earnestness; "I +shall tell mother how impudently she spoke to you. A boy has given a +little dog to Oscar, and that was what he was telling us about, just +before he went out." + +"Why, grandmother," added Ella, "I did n't mean to be impudent; but I +'ve noticed that you always want to hear what everybody says, even when +they are not talking to you, and mother says that is n't polite." + +"I am much obliged to you, my dear," replied her grandmother, very +meekly; "after I have taken a few more lessons from you, perhaps I +shall know how to behave." + +The feelings of the old lady were more hurt by the rudeness of Ella, +than her mild rebukes indicated. Alice felt bound to inform her mother +of what had taken place; and Mrs. Preston was greatly mortified, on +learning that her little daughter had spoken so impudently to her aged +mother. She apologized for Ella, as well as she could, by saying that +she was naturally forward and impulsive. At noon, when the children +returned from school, she called Ella into a room by herself, and +talked with her about her conduct. At first, Ella tried to justify +herself; but after awhile her better nature triumphed, and she felt +heartily ashamed of her treatment of her grandmother. To think that +she, a girl eleven years old, should have attempted to teach her aged +grandmother politeness, and in such an uncivil way, too! No wonder she +hung her head in shame. + +To be candid, perhaps Ella's grandmother was a little too inquisitive +to know what was going on around her. But this was one of the +infirmities of old age which were slowly stealing upon her, and which +the young should regard with pity and forbearance, but never with a +censorious spirit. + +Ella was really a good-hearted girl, when her generous feelings were +aroused. From that day, she treated her grandmother with marked +kindness and respect; and her unfortunate attempt to rebuke the +venerable woman was never alluded to again. + +Among the articles which Mrs. Lee brought from the country, for the +children, was a small bag of corn for popping. One evening, George +happened to think of this corn, which none of them had yet tried; and +partly filling one of his pockets from the bag, he slipped quietly into +the kitchen, and commenced popping it by Bridget's fire. There was no +person in the kitchen but himself, and putting a handfull of corn in +the wire popper, it soon began to snap and jump about, the hard, yellow +kernels bursting forth into light and beautiful milk-white balls. But +by-and-bye the savory odor of the corn found its way up stairs, and +Ella and Ralph ran down to get their share of the treat. George had +put the corn upon the table to cool, as fast as it was popped; but when +he heard footsteps approaching, he scrambled it into his pocket as +quick as possible. + +"Halloo, popped corn! Give me some, Georgie, won't you?" said Ralph. + +"And me, too," added Ella. + +"No I shan't, either," said George; "I popped it for myself." + +"You're real stingy," replied Ella; "but no matter, Ralph and I will +pop some for ourselves. Where is the bag?" + +"You must find it for yourselves--I had to," was George's selfish +reply, as he gathered the last of his popped corn into his pocket, +badly burning his fingers, in his anxiety lest his brother or sister +should get hold of a kernel or two. + +Ella and Ralph commenced searching for the bag of corn, but they could +not find it. They looked in every place where they supposed it might +be, but in vain. Their mother had gone to bed with a sick headache, or +they would have ascertained where it was from her. At length they gave +up the search, and returned to the sitting-room, in no very pleasant +frame of mind. + +"I do declare, George," said Ella, "you are the meanest boy I ever +heard of." + +"Why, what is the matter with George?" inquired his grandmother. + +"He 's been popping some of the corn you gave us," replied Ella; "and +he won't give us a kernel of it, nor tell us where the bag is, so that +we can pop some for ourselves." + +"Why, George," said Mrs. Lee, "that is too bad; I would tell them where +the corn is, for I intended it as much for them as for you." + +"I don't care," said George; "they've called me mean and stingy, and +now they may find it for themselves." + +"We did n't call you mean and stingy till you refused to tell us where +it was," added Ella. + +"If I could find it, I guess you would n't get another kernel of it," +said Ralph, addressing George; "I'd burn it all up first." + +"No, no, Ralph, that is wrong," replied his grandmother. "The corn is +n't worth quarrelling about. If George wants to be selfish, and keep +it all to himself, I 'll send down some more for the rest of you, when +I go home. But I guess Georgie does n't mean to be selfish," she +added, coaxingly; "he only wants to plague you a little, that's all. +He 'll tell you where he found the corn, pretty soon." + +George, who was growing uneasy under this combined attack, now +retreated to bed, leaving his grandmother more astonished than ever at +his obstinacy. + +"There," said Alice, "it's of no use to try to drive or coax him out of +his selfishness. Mother says he 'll outgrow it by-and-bye, but I don't +see as there is any prospect of it. You know what made him so selfish, +don't you, grandmother?" + +"I am afraid he has been humored too much," replied Mrs. Lee. + +"Well, he has been," added Alice; "but you know when he was little, he +was very sick for a whole year, and the doctor said he must n't be +crossed any more than we could help, for crying and fretting were very +bad for him. So he had his own way in everything, and if we children +had anything he wanted, we had to give it to him, and let him break it +to pieces, for he would scream as loud as he could, if we refused him. +This was the way he got to be so selfish; and now he thinks we must +humor him just as we did when he was sick." + +"There is some little excuse for him, if he fell into the habit when he +was very young and sick," observed Mrs. Lee; "but he is old enough and +well enough now to know better, and ought to be broken of the fault." + +"Father and mother have tried to break him of it," replied Alice, "but +they have not succeeded very well yet. They have talked to him a good +deal about it, but it does no good." + +The next day, the children found the bag of corn, and their mother told +George she should punish him for his selfishness by not letting him +have any more of it. The corn was accordingly divided among the other +children, and thus George, in trying to get more than his share, +actually got less than the others did. + +It was about this time that Oscar came into possession of the pup which +Alfred Walton had promised him two or three weeks before. He at first +had some difficulty in obtaining the consent of his mother to bring it +home. She thought it would be troublesome, and tried to dissuade him +from taking it; but Oscar's heart was so strongly set upon the dog, +that she at length reluctantly assented to its being admitted as an +inmate of the family. + +Fastening a string to the neck of the dog, Oscar led him to his new +home, where he received every attention from the younger members of the +family. Quite a grave discussion at once ensued, as to what the name +of the new-comer should be. Each of the children had a favorite name +to propose, but Oscar rejected them all, and said the dog should be +called "Tiger;" and so that became his name, but it was usually +abbreviated to "Tige." + +[Illustration: Tiger's Countenance.] + +Tiger had grown very rapidly, and was now about twice as large as he +was when Alfred promised Oscar one of his litter of pups. He was a +handsome fellow, especially about the head, as you may see by his +portrait. At times, he looked as old and grave as his mother; but for +all that, he was a great rogue, and there was very little dignity or +soberness about him. He was brim-full of fun, and would play with +anybody or anything that would allow him to take that liberty. He +would amuse himself for hours with an old shoe or rag that he had found +in the street, and it seemed as if he never would get tired of shaking, +and tearing, and biting it. This disposition sometimes led him into +mischief, in the house; but he was always so happy, so good-natured and +so affectionate, that it was difficult to blame him very hard for his +misconduct. If Oscar's grandmother happened to drop her ball of yarn, +when Tige was about, he would seize it in an instant, and she would +have to work hard to get it away from him. She kept her work in a bag, +which she usually hung upon the back of a chair; but one day, the +little rogue pulled the bag down upon the floor, and had its various +contents scattered all about the room, before the old lady noticed what +he was doing. + +These mischievous pranks were very amusing to Oscar, and he set all the +more by Tiger, on account of this trait in his character. The other +members of the family, too, seemed to enjoy the sport he made; and it +was easy to see that even old Mrs. Lee, though she pretended to be +angry with the dog for his mischievousness, was in reality pleased with +the attentions he bestowed upon her and her knitting-work. + +Oscar's grandmother usually retired to her chamber, soon after dinner, +to take a short nap. One noon, after she had been scolding, with +assumed gravity, about the dog's mischievousness, Oscar thought he +would play a joke upon the old lady; so, on rising from the +dinner-table, he carried Tiger up to her bed-room, and shut him in. He +wanted to conceal himself somewhere, and witness the surprise of his +grandmother, when she should open the door, and the dog should spring +upon her; but it was time to go to school, and he could not wait. + +It so happened that Mrs. Lee did not take her nap so early as usual +that day. When she did go to her chamber, Tiger, impatient of his long +confinement, sprang out so quickly, that she did not observe him. But +such a scene as met her gaze on entering the chamber! The first thing +that caught her eye, was her best black bonnet lying upon the floor, +all crumpled up and torn into shreds, looking as though it had been +used for a football by a parcel of boys. She entered the room, and +found a dress upon the floor, with numerous marks of rough handling +upon it; while towels and other articles were scattered about in +confusion. The cloth upon the dressing-table had been pulled off, and +the articles that were kept upon it were lying upon the floor, +including a handsome vase, which, in the fall, had been shattered to +pieces. There was in the chamber a stuffed easy-chair, the covering of +which was of worsted-work, wrought by Mrs. Preston when she was a young +girl. This chair, which was highly valued as a relic of the past, was +also badly injured. A part of the needle-work, which had cost so many +hours of patient toil, was torn in every direction, and some of the +hair, with which the cushion was stuffed, was pulled out, and scattered +about the floor. + +As soon as Mrs. Lee had fully comprehended the extent of the mischief, +she went to the stair-way, and called her daughter. A glance satisfied +Mrs. Preston that Tiger must have been there; and she was confirmed in +this belief by Bridget, who remembered that the dog came down into the +kitchen, just after Mrs. Lee went up. But they could not tell how the +little rogue got shut into the room. They concluded, however, that +some of the children did it by accident, or that the dog slipped in +unperceived when Mrs. Lee came out from the chamber before dinner. + +Oscar did not go directly home from school, but as soon as he entered +the house, he learned what Tiger had done, from the other children. He +felt sorry that what he intended as a harmless joke, should end in so +serious a matter; but he determined that no one should know he had a +hand in it, if he could prevent it. He regretted the destruction of +property, but this feeling did not cause him so much uneasiness as his +fear of losing his dog in consequence of this bad afternoon's work. +His mother, as soon as she saw him, inquired if he had been to his +grandmother's chamber that noon. He replied that he had not. She +inquired if he let Tiger into it, and he answered in the negative. His +mother questioned him still further, but he denied all knowledge of the +matter. + +It was not very hard work for Oscar to tell a lie, now, for practice +makes easy. He could do it, too, in such a plausible and seemingly +innocent way, that it was difficult to believe he was deceiving you. +His falsehoods, in this instance, were readily believed; and as all the +other children denied having any knowledge of the affair, it was the +general conclusion that Tiger must have obtained admittance to the +chamber accidentally and unperceived. + +When Mr. Preston came home to tea, and saw what the dog had done, he +was very angry with poor Tiger, and told Oscar he must sell him or give +him away, for he would not have such a mischievous animal about the +house another day. A day or two after, Mrs. Preston replaced the +articles belonging to her mother that had been injured, and the +excitement about the dog soon died away. Oscar did not try to get rid +of his pet; but he was careful not to let him stay in the house much of +the time especially when his father was at home. + +"Oscar," said his grandmother a day or two after as he came into the +kitchen with Tiger, "I thought your father told you he would n't have +that dog around here any more." + +"O, he did n't mean so," replied Oscar; "he was mad when he said that, +but he 's got over it now. Besides, I don't let Tige stay in the house +much." + +"A good dale ye cares for what yer father says," remarked Bridget, who +was never backward about putting in a word, when Oscar's delinquencies +were the subject of conversation. + +"You shut up, Bridget,--nobody spoke to you," replied Oscar. + +"Shet up, did ye say? Faith, if ye don't git shet up yerself where ye +won't git out in a hurry, afore ye 're many years older, it 'll be +because ye don't git yer desarts. Ye 're a bad b'y, that ye are, an'--" + +"There, there, Biddy," interrupted Mrs. Lee, "I would n't say anything +more--it only aggravates him, and does no good. But, Oscar," she +added, "I 'm sorry you don't pay more attention to what your father +says. It's a bad habit to get into. I knew a disobedient boy, once, +who came to the gallows; and I 've known several others who made very +bad men." + +"But you don't call me disobedient, do you, grandma'am?" inquired Oscar. + +"I don't know what else to call it," she replied, "if your father tells +you to do a thing, and you take no notice of it." + +"But father does n't want me to give Tige away--I don't believe he 's +thought of it again since that night." + +"Then, if I were you," replied his grandmother, "I would ask his +consent to keep the dog. If he did n't mean what he said, that night, +you will be safe enough in asking him." + +But this was a kind of reasoning that Oscar could not appreciate. If +he could carry his point just as well without his father's formal +consent, he thought it was useless to ask any such favor. As long as +he could keep his dog, it was all the same to him whether his father +withdrew his command, or silently acquiesced in his disobedience of it. + +But grandmother Lee's visit was drawing to a close, and early one +bright, cool morning, in the latter part of December, the coach called, +to take her to the railroad depot; and after a few kisses, and words of +affectionate advice, and lingering good-byes, she departed on her +homeward journey. Of those she left behind, next to her own daughter, +the saddest of the group was little Ella, who, for many days, missed +the pleasant face of her good old grandmother. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WINTER SPORTS. + +It was now mid-winter, and a few inches of snow lay upon the frozen +ground, sufficient to make pretty fair sleighing for a few days, and to +afford good coasting for the boys on the hill-sides. The favorite +place for this amusement, among the boys in Oscar's neighborhood, was +the Common. Here they always found good, long, smooth coasting-places, +when there was any snow on the ground; and there was no danger of +tripping up foot passengers, or getting under the heels of the horses, +or being tapped on the shoulder by a policeman, which often happened to +boys who coasted down the steep streets of the city,--a practice, by +the way, prohibited by a city law. + +Oscar had a handsome new sled, which was a new year's present from his +father. It was long and narrow, the two steel-shod runners projecting +forward far beyond the top or seat, and ending in sharp points. It was +painted light blue, and varnished. Upon the sides, in gilt letters, +was its name--CLIPPER; and upon its top it bore the initial of Oscar's +name, with an ornamental device. It had what a sailor would call a +decidedly rakish look, and was really a fast as well as a stylish +"team," to use the term by which Oscar usually spoke of it. It even +eclipsed George's small but elegant sled, which, the winter previous, +had been regarded as the _ne plus ultra_ of sled architecture. + +Ralph's sled, by the side of these, presented a very cheap and +antiquated appearance, and it was seldom that he took it with him to +the Common. He often borrowed Oscar's, however, when it was not in use +for his elder brother, with all his faults, was not selfish boy, but +was willing to lend his property to others, when he was not using it +himself. One pleasant Wednesday afternoon, a portion of the week +always devoted to recreation by the Boston school children, Ralph +obtained leave to take the "Clipper" with him to the Common. George +also went with him with his sled. The coasting is very good, and some +hundreds of boys are enjoying it. Long lines of sleds, freighted with +from one to three or four juveniles, are dashing down in various +directions from the Beacon Street mall; and an odd collection of +juveniles and sleds it is, too. There comes a chubby, red-faced lad, +with his exact counterpart, on a smaller scale, clinging on behind him +with one hand, and swinging his cap with the other. Their sled is +called the "Post-Boy," and it seems to "carry the males" very +expeditiously. Close at their heels is a pale, poetic youth, lightly +skimming over the inclined plane upon a delicate craft that looks like +himself, and which he calls the "Mystery." Here comes a rude, +unpainted sled, with two rough but merry youngsters lying prone upon +it, one over the other, and their heels working up and down in the air +in a most lively manner. Anon goes by an aristocratic-looking craft, +bearing upon it a sleek and well-dressed boy, whose appearance speaks +of wealth, indulgence, and ease. His sled is appropriately named the +"Pet;" but in gliding down the icy track it strikes a tree, and its +pampered owner is sent sprawling upon his back, in a very undignified +way, while his "Pet" gives him the slip and soon finds the bottom of +the hill. Poor fellow! we wonder if this is an omen of what is to +befall him in sliding down the hill of life. And here comes the +"Clipper" itself, with our Ralph seated proudly upon it, and apparently +enjoying the fleet and beautiful sled as much as though it were really +his own. And there, too, comes George, with his pretty "Snow Flake;" +and close behind him are the "Tempest," and the "Yankee Doodle," and +the "Screamer," and the "Snow ball," and the "Nelly," and the "Racer," +and a host of other craft, of every imaginable appearance, and strided +by all sorts of boys. + +Ralph and George spent an hour or two upon the Common. Nothing +occurred to mar their pleasure till just before they started for home, +when Ralph met with an adventure that sadly ruffled his temper. He was +descending the hill upon his sled, when another craft, having two boys +upon it larger than himself, managed to run into him. The "Clipper" +being lightly loaded, the other sled descended with greater impetus; +and the force of the collision, together with a vigorous kick from the +stout boots of one of the boys, overturned Ralph upon the steepest part +of the hill. He quickly picked himself up, and, forgetful of self, his +first care was to see whether Oscar's sled had sustained any damage. +When he beheld the marks of the rough encounter, in the form of sundry +ugly scratches upon the polished sides of the "Clipper," the tears came +in his eyes; and it was some time before he noticed that he himself +bore upon his hands and knees several unmistakable tokens of the +collision. + +Ralph knew very well that the collision was not accidental. The kick +of the boy who guided the sled, and the hearty laugh of both its +occupants, when Ralph was overturned, satisfied him that he had been +run down purposely. He did not know the names of the boys, having only +met them occasionally on the Common. They soon came along again, on +their way up the hill, and Ralph asked the owner of the sled why he run +him down. + +"Because you got in our way," replied the boy. + +"No, I did n't," said Ralph; "there was room enough for you to go by, +but you steered out of your course, and gave my sled a kick, too." + +"Don't you tell me I lie, you little snipper-snapper," answered the boy +"or I 'll put you in my pocket, and carry you off." + +"See what you did," continued Ralph, pointing to the scratches on the +"Clipper;" "I should n't care anything about it, but the sled is n't +mine. I borrowed it of my brother, and it had n't a scratch on it when +I took it." + +"Pooh," said the other boy, "that does n't hurt it any. I 'll be bound +it will be scratched worse than that, before the winter 's over. If +you get in my way with it again, I shall serve it worse than I did this +time." + +The boys passed on their way, and Ralph and George, whose "fun" had +been thus suddenly and unjustly spoiled by their insolent and +domineering companions, concluded to return home. Poor Ralph dreaded +to meet Oscar; but yet he hunted him up, as soon as he got home, and +told him what had befallen the beautiful sled. Oscar was very angry +when he heard the story, but he generously acquitted his brother of all +blame in the matter, and declared that he would pay back the boy who +had thus taken advantage of his weakness. He knew the offender, from +Ralph's description, and from the name of his sled, which was the +"Corsair." He even proposed to go directly to the Common, and settle +the account at once; but Ralph, in whose heart revenge held a very +small place, persuaded him out of the notion. + +But Oscar, unlike Ralph, was not the boy to forget or forgive an +injury. A day or two after the occurrence just related, while coasting +on the Common, he fell in with the boy who run into his brother. +Keeping his eye upon him until he could catch him a little aside from +the other boys, when the favorable moment came, he suddenly dealt him a +severe blow, which nearly knocked him over, accompanying it with the +remark: + +"There, take that for running down my little brother, when he was +coasting with my sled, the other day." + +The other boy, without saying a word, sprang at Oscar, and, for a +moment or two, blows and kicks were freely exchanged. But though they +were about of a size, it was evident that Oscar was the stronger or +most resolute of the two, and his antagonist soon gave up the contest, +but not until he had been pretty roughly handled. Other boys soon came +flocking around, to whom Oscar explained the cause of the assault; but +his antagonist denied all knowledge of the affair for which Oscar had +attacked him. An angry war of words ensued, but the excitement finally +subsided without any further resort to blows, and Oscar returned home, +well pleased with his adventure. + +One of Oscar's favorite winter amusements was skating. Early in +winter, as soon as the little pond on the Common was frozen over, he +might be seen gliding over the smooth ice; but later in the season, +when there was good skating on "Back Bay," he preferred that locality, +because of its greater extent. Tiger usually accompanied him in his +skating excursions, and seemed to enjoy the sport as much as his master +did. It was amusing to see him try to make a short turn, in running +upon the ice. He would slide some distance before he could change his +course. Oscar would often plague him, when he was in full chase after +his master, by suddenly turning upon his skates, and taking a contrary +direction, leaving Tiger to get back as he could. + +But an event happened, one day, that almost wholly cured Tiger of his +fondness for this kind of sport. He was gaily tripping over the ice, +by the side of his young master, when the latter suddenly turned about, +and Tiger, in his haste to follow him, slid directly into an air-hole. +This was probably the first time he had enjoyed so extensive a cold +bath; and as he was not a water-dog, it is not surprising that he was +terribly frightened. His piteous cries brought Oscar to his relief, +who could not help laughing at the sorry plight in which he found his +half-drowned canine friend. He was floundering and paddling about in +the water, now lifting himself almost out, upon the edge of the ice, +and now slipping off again, and plumping over-head in the uncomfortable +element; his intelligent countenance, in the meantime, wearing the +impress of despair. But Oscar soon helped him from his disagreeable +position. Finding himself on his legs again, he did not resume his +sport; but, shivering with cold, and dripping with water, almost at the +freezing point, and with his head hanging downward, and his tail +drooping between his legs, he started towards home--a wiser and a +sadder dog. + +When Oscar got home, he found the family some what alarmed for his own +safety. Tiger had arrived some time before, and as it was evident that +he had been overboard, and as he was known to have gone off with his +master, Mrs. Preston felt some anxiety, not knowing but that both Oscar +and the dog had broken through the ice. But his arrival dispelled all +fears, and his account of Tiger's misfortune served to amuse the +children for the rest of the day. As for Tiger himself, he seemed +heartily ashamed of the part he had played, and could hardly be +persuaded to leave the chimney-corner for a moment, or even to look up, +when the children inquired for his health. + +"I don't see what good air-holes do. I wonder if anybody knows what +they are for," exclaimed Ralph, as the children and their mother were +seated around the sitting-room table in the evening. + +"They are traps set to catch skaters, I suppose," said Oscar. + +"And dogs," added Ella. + +"But don't you know what they are for, Alice?" continued Ralph. + +"Yes," replied Alice, who had studied natural philosophy at school, +"they are the breathing holes of the fishes. Fishes can't live without +air, any better than we can; and a pond or river frozen over solid, +without any air-holes, would be as bad for them as a room from which +all fresh air was shut out would be to us. You can sometimes catch +fish very easily by cutting a hole in the ice, for if they feel the +need of air, they will rush right up to the opening." + +"But how are the air-holes made?" inquired Ralph. + +"I believe," replied Alice, "that they are generally made by springs +that bubble up from the bottom. These springs come from the earth, and +the water is so warm that it gradually thaws the ice over them. The +fish often finish the process by jumping up through the ice before it +has entirely melted. When the cold is very intense, and these springs +have frozen up, some of the water is absorbed by the earth, which +leaves a vacuum or empty space between the ice and the water; and then +the ice gives way under the weight of the atmosphere, and air is +admitted into the water beneath." + +"Well, I 'm glad air-holes are good for something," said Oscar; "they +'re troublesome enough to skaters. Jim Anderson skated right into one +the other day, and came pretty near getting drowned. But I always keep +my eyes open for them. I never got into one yet." + +"You cannot be too careful when you are on the ice," remarked Mrs. +Preston. "I felt so uneasy, that I was just going to send Ralph in +search of you, when you got home." + +After that day it required considerable coaxing to induce Tiger to go +upon the boys' skating-ground. He manifested a decided preference to +remain upon the shore, and look on; and when he did venture to +accompany his master, he kept close by his side, and travelled over the +treacherous ice with a degree of circumspection, which said very +plainly, "You won't catch me in that scrape again, master Oscar!" + +But there was nothing that the boys enjoyed more at this season of the +year, than a real good snowstorm. Such a storm they were favored with +during this month. It came on in the evening, and the next morning, +when they arose, their basement windows were more than half buried up +in snow, and the drifts, in some places, were higher than Oscar's head. +The streets were deserted and almost impassable. Thick crusts of snow +hung over the roofs of the long blocks of houses; while the blinds, +windows, doors and balustrades were heavily trimmed with the same +delicate material. The huge banks which stretched themselves along the +street and sidewalk, were as yet undisturbed; for the few passers-by +had been glad to pick their way through the valleys. The wind roared +and piped among the chimneys and house-tops, and whisked through narrow +passage-ways, and whistled through the smallest cracks and crevices, in +its merriest and busiest mood. Now it would scoop up a cloud of snow +from the street, and bear it up far above the house-tops, and then it +would repay the debt by gathering a fleecy wreath from some neighboring +roof, and sweeping it into the street beneath. The storm still +continued with unabated severity, and the air was so full of snow, that +one could hardly see the length of the street. + +After a hasty breakfast, the boys tucked the bottoms of their trowsers +into their boots, and sallied forth, to explore the half-buried +streets. And now the light snow-balls began to fly thick and fast, and +every few moments, one and another would measure his full length in +some deep drift, which for a moment almost buried him from sight. +Tiger, who accompanied them, entered fully into the sport, and very +good-naturedly received his share of the snowballs and snow-baths. But +their exercise was too violent to be continued a great while. They +soon returned home, coated with snow from head to heel, and the cheeks +of the boys glowing with health and enjoyment. + +"After you get rested, Oscar," said Mr. Preston, who was just leaving +for the store, "I want you to shovel a path in front of the house." + +"What is the use?" inquired Oscar. "The storm is n't over yet, and if +I make a path, it will fill right up again." + +"No it won't," replied his father. "I don't think it will storm much +longer; and the snow is so light, now, that you can shovel it easily, +but if you leave it till noon, it maybe trodden down hard. You need +not clean off the whole side-walk now; only make a comfortable +passage-way, and perhaps I will help you finish the job at night." + +Oscar still thought it would be a waste of labor to shovel a path then, +and he did not evince any haste in obeying his father's order. After +loitering about the house a long time, he took the shovel, and worked +lazily at the path for awhile. Although he only undertook to cut a +narrow passage-way through the drift in front of the house, he worked +with so little spirit, that when the time came for him to get ready for +school, he had not half completed the task. He asked permission to +stay at home and finish his path, but his mother did not think this +necessary, and refused her consent. So he went to school, and in the +meantime the storm died away, and the clouds dispersed. + +Towards noon the door-bell rang, and on Bridget going to answer it, a +little printed paper was handed to her, directing the occupant of the +house to have the snow removed from his sidewalk within a given number +of hours. After school, Oscar thought no more of his path, but went +off with Alfred Walton, and did not go home until dinner-time. He had +but little time now to shovel snow; but his father told him to be sure +and come home directly from school, in the afternoon, and not to play +or do anything else until the sidewalk was cleared off. + +Oscar accordingly went home after school, and resumed his work. He +found that the snow was trodden into such a solid icy mass, that an axe +was necessary to cut it up in some places. He was not the boy to hurt +himself with hard labor, and although he kept his shovel at work in a +leisurely way, he did not accomplish much, except the removal of a +little snow that had not got trodden down. Wearied at length with his +feeble and fruitless efforts, he returned into the house, saying to his +mother: + +"There, I can't get the snow off the sidewalk, and it's of no use to +try. It's trodden down just as hard as ice. Besides, if I should +shovel it all off, there will be an avalanche from the top of the house +to-night, that will bury the sidewalk all up again. The snow is +sliding off the roofs, all around here;--have n't you heard it, mother?" + +"Yes, I thought I heard it," replied Mrs. Preston; "but if you can't +get the snow off the sidewalk, you had better speak to your father +about it, when he comes home, and perhaps he will help you, or hire +somebody to do it for you. It must be got off as soon as possible, for +the police have notified us to attend to it." + +In spite of this advice, Oscar neglected to speak to his father in +regard to the matter, and no one else happening to think of it, nothing +was said about it. The next morning, he chopped away upon the ice a +little while, but getting tired of it, he soon abandoned the job, and +went to play. When Mr. Preston came home to dinner, an unusual cloud +was on his brow; and as soon as Oscar came in, the cause was explained. + +"Oscar," he said, "why did you not shovel the snow from the sidewalk, +as I told you to, yesterday morning?" + +"I tried to," replied Oscar; "but it was trodden down so hard, I could +n't get it off." + +"But you should have done it before it got hardened. I told you to +clear a passage-way, yesterday morning. That would have saved the rest +from getting trod down, and at noon you could have finished the job. +Why did you not do as I told you to?" + +"I did begin to make a path," replied Oscar; "but I did n't have time +to finish it, and when I got home from school, the snow was all trodden +down hard." + +"Did n't have time?" said his father; "what do you tell me such a story +as that for? You could have made all the path that was necessary in +fifteen or twenty minutes, if you had been disposed to do it. By +neglecting to obey me, you have got me into a pretty scrape. I have +had to go before the Police Court, this forenoon, and pay a fine and +costs, amounting to over five dollars, for your negligence and +disobedience. And now," he added, "you may try once more, and see if +you can do as I tell you to. As soon at you have done dinner, take the +hatchet and shovel, and go to work upon the sidewalk; and don't you +leave it until the ice is all cleared off. As sure as you do, I will +dust your jacket for you when I come home to-night, so that you will +not forget it for one while." + +Oscar thought it best to obey his father this time. It being Saturday, +school did not keep, in the afternoon, and he had ample time to +complete the task, although it was time which he intended to spend in a +different way. Ralph, however, volunteered his assistance, and before +the middle of the afternoon, the task was finished. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +APPEARANCES. + +Those who impose upon the weak, sometimes get punished for their +meanness in an unexpected manner. This truth was very effectually +impressed upon Oscar, one March morning, as he was going to school. +The streets were in a very bad condition, being several inches deep +with a compound of snow, water, and mud, familiarly known as "slosh." +Just before reaching the school-house, he overtook two little boys with +a sled, and throwing himself upon it, he compelled them to drag him +along. It was hard sledding, and the boys naturally objected to +drawing such a heavy load; but Oscar kept his seat, and compelled them +to go on. For a few minutes, he rode along very quietly, although his +span of youngsters, who were continually muttering to themselves, did +not seem to enjoy the sport as well as he did. But, by a dexterous +movement, they soon balanced the debtor and creditor account. Giving +the sled a sudden jerk and lurch, in one of the sloppiest places they +had met with, their lazy passenger was thrown backward into the mud, +and imprinted a full length picture of himself in the yielding +material. The incident happened almost in front of the school-house, +and as Oscar rose from the mud, he was greeted by the shouts and +laughter of a hundred boys who witnessed the scene. Several men, also, +who were passing at the time, joined in the laughing chorus; and one, +who had observed the whole affair from the beginning, told Oscar the +boys had served him just right. + +[Illustration: The Overturn.] + +Ralph came to the relief of his brother, and having wiped off as much +of the mud and water from his back as he could, with a handkerchief, +Oscar started for home, wet to his skin. He was keenly sensitive to +any mortification of this kind, and it was a bitter pill for him to +appear in the crowded streets in such a plight. He imagined everybody +he met or overtook was staring at him, and laughing at the figure he +cut, and he wanted to hide his face from their sight. He never went +home from school so fast before; but when he had changed his dress, and +washed the dirt from his hands and face, it was too late to return. In +the afternoon, when he made his appearance at school, he was quite +generally greeted with the significant nickname of "Stick-in-the-mud," +and had to stand a most remorseless fire of wit, pleasantry, and +ridicule the rest of the day, both at home and in the street. + +Oscar thought quite as much as was proper of outward appearances. He +was commendably neat in his personal habits, and was seldom caught with +dirty hands and face, or uncombed hair, or soiled and ragged dress. He +loved to dress well, too, and no amount of persuasion could induce him +to wear a garment, if he fancied it did not set right, or was much out +of fashion, or had an old and patched-up look. In such a case, nothing +but the stern arm of authority was sufficient to overcome his +prejudices. + +"There," said his mother one evening, after spending some time over one +of his jackets, which had become a little worn at the elbows; "there, +that will last you a spell longer, and look almost as well as it ever +did, too." + +Oscar examined the garment. It was neatly mended, and looked very +well; but his eye rested upon a slight patch upon one of the elbows, +which entirely spoilt it for him, although it had previously been a +favorite garment. + +"It's too small for me," he said; "why can't you keep it for Ralph?" + +"No, you needn't keep it for Ralph," quickly replied the owner of that +name; "I haven't had anything but your old clothes to wear for a year +or two, and I should think it was my turn to have some of the new ones, +now. Make him wear that out, mother, won't you?" + +"Yes, I intend he shall wear it awhile longer," replied Mrs. Preston. +"It looks well enough for any body." + +"But see that detestable patch," said Oscar; "I don't want to wear +_that_ to school; folks will think I have borrowed one of Ben. Wright's +old jackets." + +Ben Wright was one of Oscar's schoolmates. He was the son of a poor +widow, and was the most be-patched boy in Oscar's class, at the head of +which he stood. As he had nothing to recommend him but fine +scholarship, exemplary deportment, and a good character, in school and +out, he was a boy of little consequence in the eyes of Oscar. + +"I wish you were _worthy_ to wear one of Benny's old jackets," replied +Mrs. Preston. "If you were half as good a boy as he is, I would not +complain. But you need not be afraid that anybody will mistake you for +him, even if you _do_ wear a patched garment." + +"I believe you think Ben. Wright is a little angel," said Oscar, who +never liked to hear his humble but diligent classmate praised. + +"I think he has some traits that you would do well to imitate," replied +his mother. + +"I shall think I am imitating him, when I get that thing on," added +Oscar, in a contemptuous manner, alluding to the jacket. + +"There, that will do, Oscar," replied Mrs. Preston, "You've said enough +about the jacket; don't let me hear another word of complaint. I took +a great deal of pains to mend it neatly, and it looks well enough for +you or any other boy. You may put it on to-morrow morning, and don't +you leave off wearing it till I tell you to." + +Oscar nodded his head in a way that seemed to say, "You 'll see how +long I wear it;" but his mother did not observe the motion. He had a +short and easy way of getting rid of garments that he disliked. +Somehow other they were sure to waste away in a much faster manner than +those he had a fancy for; or, perhaps they would be rendered suddenly +useless, by some mysterious accident. But he would never admit that +their period of usefulness had been purposely shortened, though +suspicions of this kind were occasionally hinted. + +Soon after this, Mr. Preston entered the room, and took a seat by the +fire He pulled out his watch to wind it up, as was his custom just +before bed-time, when Oscar said: + +"Father, I wish you would buy me a watch. Frank King, and Bill +Andrews, and Charlie Grant, and almost all the large boys that I know, +have got watches, and I should think I might have one too; why can't I, +father?" + +"What do they do with watches?" inquired Mr. Preston. + +"Why, what does anybody do with them? They carry them to tell the time +of day, of course," replied Oscar. + +"And to make a display of watch-chain," added his father. + +"No, that isn't it," replied Oscar; "but it's convenient to have a +watch with you. You don't know how I 'm plagued to tell what time it +is, sometimes. It would make me a good deal more punctual, if I had +one. I was late to school this morning, but it was n't my fault, for I +did n't know what time it was until I got to the school-house, and +found that the boys had all gone in." + +"When I was of your age," said Mr. Preston, "boys never thought of +carrying watches, and yet they were taught to be as punctual as the +clock, in their attendance at school. If I had been tardy, and tried +to excuse myself by saying that I had no watch, I should have got +laughed at by the whole school. But where were you this morning, that +you did not know when it was school-time?" + +"Over to Alf. Walton's." + +"And couldn't find a time-piece about the premises?" + +"Why--no--I--forgot--" replied Oscar, somewhat embarrassed by the +question. + +"Just as I supposed," added his father; "you got along with that boy, +and forgot all about your school; and it would have been just the same, +if you 'd had half a dozen watches in your pocket." + +"O no, father," said Oscar; "for if I 'd had a watch about me, I should +have looked at it." + +"Well," added Mr. Preston, "if you don't care enough about punctuality +to take a little trouble to ascertain what time it is, when you have an +engagement, I don't think a watch would help you any in acquiring the +habit. You have n't made out a very strong case." + +"No," remarked Mrs. Preston, "he wants a watch for show, and not +punctuality,--that's plain enough. He has just been making a great +fuss because I put a little bit of a patch on the elbow of his jacket. +He is getting to be quite fastidious, for a gentleman of his size." + +"If you would think a little less of outside appearances, Oscar," +continued his father, "and a little more of inward character, your +judgment of men and things would not be quite so much at fault as it is +now. If you judge of boys or men by the cloth and watches they wear, +and select your companions accordingly, you will soon find that you +have got a pretty set of friends. And so, too, if you think you can +secure the good opinion and respect of the world, merely by dressing +well, you are greatly mistaken. You must learn to judge people by +their characters, and not by their dress or appearance. If I could see +you trying to form a good character, I should care very little what +sort of garments you wore. I would buy you a watch, or anything else +in my power, if it would only make you behave better. In fact, I will +make you a handsome offer now, if you wish." + +"Well, what is it?" inquired Oscar. + +"I will agree to give you a nice watch, in six months from this time, +if you will do three things," continued his father. + +"What are they?" inquired Oscar; "are they things that I can do?" + +"Certainly," said Mr. Preston; "you can do them if you will only try. +The first is, that you render prompt obedience to your parents, during +these six months. Is n't that within your power?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar, somewhat reluctantly. + +"The second is," continued Mr. Preston, "that you behave toward your +playmates and all other people in such a way, that no serious complaint +shall be made against you. Can you do that, if you try?" + +"Yes, sir, I guess so," replied Oscar. + +"And the last condition is, that you give sufficient attention to your +studies to gain admission to the High School, at the end of the term. +Is that in your power?" + +"I suppose it is," said Oscar. + +"You admit, then, that you _can_ keep these conditions," continued his +father; "the question now is, _will_ you do it?" + +That was a hard question for Oscar to answer. He hesitated, and +twisted about in his chair, and at length replied: + +"Why, I don't suppose I should make out, if I tried." + +"No, you certainly would not, if that is your spirit," replied his +father. "You cannot accomplish anything unless you have some +confidence that you can do it, and firmly resolve to try. You just +admitted that you could keep these conditions, but it seems you are not +willing to make the attempt. You want a watch, but you don't intend to +obey your parents, or to conduct yourself properly, or to attend to +your lessons, for the sake of getting it--that's what you mean to say, +is it not?" + +Oscar remained silent. + +"I am sorry," continued his father, "that you will not take up with my +offer; for though I do not think it important that you should get the +watch, it is important that you should reform some of your habits. You +are getting to be altogether too wayward and headstrong, as well as +vain." + +"If I get into the High School next summer, may I have the watch?" +inquired Oscar. + +"No," replied his father, "not unless you comply with the other +conditions. But I want you to remember what I told you the other day, +that if you don't get into the High School at that time, I shall send +you to some boarding-school away from home, where you will be made to +study, and to behave yourself too. If strict discipline can do +anything for you, you shall have the benefit of it, you may depend upon +that." + +Oscar was now two-thirds of the way through his last year in the school +he attended. His parents were anxious that he should go through the +High School course of studies, and, indeed, he had applied for +admission to that school the summer previous to this, but did not pass +the examination. There was still some doubt whether he would succeed +any better at the next examination; and in case of his failure, his +parents had decided to send him to a boarding-school in the country. +But there was nothing very alarming to him in the idea of going into +such an establishment, notwithstanding all his father said of the +strict discipline to which he would be subjected. There would be a +novelty about it, he imagined, that would make it quite pleasant. +Consequently, he cared very little whether he was accepted as a High +School pupil or not. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE MORAL LESSON. + +Oscar had the name among his fellows of being a shrewd and sharp boy at +a bargain; and, like too many men who have acquired a similar +reputation, he was not over-scrupulous in his manner of conducting his +business operations. If he could drive a profitable trade, it mattered +little _how_ he did it; and if somebody else lost as much as he gained +by the bargain, that was not his business; every one must look out for +himself. So he reasoned, and so constantly did he act on this +principle, that, to tell the truth, his integrity was by no means +unimpeachable among his comrades. It was a very general opinion, that +in many of their boyish games, such as marbles, he would cheat if he +could get a chance; and the notion was equally prevalent, that in a +bargain, he was pretty sure to get decidedly the best end. + +Oscar was very desirous that his dog Tiger should wear a brass collar, +by way of ornament and distinction. All other respectable dogs bore +upon their necks this badge of ownership, and he thought it highly +important that Tiger should be on a good footing with his canine +friends. But how to get the collar, was the question that perplexed +him. He had asked his father to buy it, and met with a flat refusal. +He had even called at several shops, and inquired the price of the +coveted article, but it was hopelessly beyond his means. The subject +lay heavily upon his mind for several days, for when he took a notion +that he wanted a thing, it was hard to reason or drive him out of it. +His thoughts and his dreams were of brass dog-collars, and his talk +among his companions run upon the same theme. At length, while +prosecuting his inquiries, he happened to learn that a little boy who +attended his school, owned just such a collar as he wanted, and had no +dog to wear it. Here was a chance for a speculation. Oscar lost no +time in seeing this boy, and in getting his lowest price for the +collar, which was fifty cents. This was much less than the price at +the shops, and Oscar thought his father might be induced, by this fact, +to let him have the money to purchase it; but Mr. Preston did not think +Tiger needed any such appendage, and Oscar's request was again denied. + +Oscar now set his wits to work to devise a way of buying the collar, +without his father's aid. He looked over the little collection of +"goods and chattels," which he called his own, to see what there was he +could exchange for the article he wanted. His eye soon fell upon a +brass finger ring, and his plan was quickly formed. The ring had been +tumbled about among his playthings for a year or two, and was now dull +and dingy; but he remembered that he once cleaned and polished it, so +that it looked very much like gold, so long as the lustre lasted. He +subjected it to this process again, and it soon looked as well as the +plain gold ring he wore upon his finger, which it somewhat resembled in +size and color. Substituting it for the gold ring, he wore it to +school that afternoon; and a little negotiation, after school was +dismissed, settled the business--the coveted dog-collar was his! +Indeed, so craftily did he conduct the bargain, that he made the other +boy throw in a pretty ivory pocket-comb to boot! The little boy who +was thus cruelly deceived, supposed he was buying the ring that Oscar +usually wore; and, in truth, Oscar did give him to understand, in the +course of the barter, that it was fine gold, a point on which the other +boy did not appear to have much doubt. + +Oscar did not dare to tell any one what a good bargain he had made, for +fear that the other boy would hear of it. Tiger appeared with a +handsome collar around his neck the next morning; and all the +explanation any one could get from his young master was, that he +"traded for it." + +A week or two elapsed before Oscar's victim discovered the imposition +that had been practiced upon him. The ring, which had been proudly +worn, at length began to look dim and brassy; and on being submitted to +careful inspection, it was pronounced by competent authority to be not +worth one cent. The owner was of course indignant, and he went at once +to Oscar, and demanded a return of the collar and comb. But Oscar +laughed at the proposal. + +"A bargain is a bargain," said he, "and there can't be any backing out, +after it's all settled. You agreed to the trade, and now you must +stick to it." + +"But it was n't a fair bargain," said the other boy; "you told me the +ring was gold, and it is nothing but brass." + +"No, I did n't tell you it was gold," replied Oscar. "You imagined +that. And I did n't tell you it was the one I wore either,--you +imagined that too. It was my other ring that I said was gold, and I +told you it cost two dollars, and so it did. I never told you this +ring was gold,--I recollect perfectly about it." + +"Well, you know I supposed it was gold, or I would n't have traded for +it," replied the boy; "and besides, you made me think it was gold, +whether you really said it was or not." + +"That was your look-out," said Oscar. "When a man sells a thing, he is +n't obliged to run it down. You must look out for yourself when you +make a bargain--that's what I do." + +"I should think you did," replied the other; "and I guess I shall +remember your advice, if I ever trade with you again. There's your old +ring: now give me back my collar and comb," he continued, handing the +ring to Oscar. + +"I shan't do any such thing," said Oscar, and he refused to take the +ring, and turned upon his heel, leaving the other boy in no very +pleasant state of mind. + +"Then you 're a great cheat and a swindler," cried the victim, +gathering courage as Oscar retreated. + +"And you 're a little greeny," replied Oscar, with a loud laugh. + +Oscar had prepared his mind for this explosion of indignation, and +though he did not care much about it, he was glad it was over with. He +regarded the transaction which led to it as a shrewd business +operation, to be chuckled over, rather than repented of; and he had no +idea of spoiling it all, by undoing the bargain. + +In Oscar's school, it was customary for the first class (of which he +was a member) to devote the first half hour of every Monday morning to +a lesson in morals. In these lessons, the duties which we owe to God, +to ourselves, and to one another, were explained and enforced. +Although a text-book was used, the teacher did not confine himself to +it, in the recitations, but mingled oral instruction with that +contained in the printed lessons, often taking up incidents that +occurred in school, to illustrate the principle he wished to establish. + +It so happened that on the Monday morning after the occurrence just +related, the subject of the moral lesson was dishonesty. The various +forms of dishonesty,--theft, robbery, fraud, &c.,--were explained, and +the distinction between them pointed out. The teacher then proceeded +as follows: + +"A gentleman was riding in the cars, one evening, when a newsboy passed +through the train, and he purchased a paper, giving the boy by mistake +a gold eagle instead of a cent. The boy noticed the mistake, but said +nothing about it. Albert, you may tell me what you think of that boy's +conduct." + +"It was dishonest," replied Albert; "because he knew that the money did +not belong to him, and yet he kept it." + +"But did not a part of the blame belong to the man who made the +mistake?" inquired the teacher. + +Albert, after thinking a moment, replied: + +"He was to blame for his carelessness, but not for the boy's +dishonesty." + +"You are right," said the teacher. "The boy was guilty of stealing, +just as much as if he had picked the man's pocket, or broken into his +house. But suppose, instead of the mistake being to the amount of ten +dollars, it had only been a few cents,--how then?" + +"It would have been just the same," replied the boy. + +"But what if the man was very rich, and would never feel the loss, +while the boy was poor, and needed the money?" + +"That would have made no difference," replied Albert. + +"Very good," continued the teacher; "when an honest man discovers a +mistake in his own favor, he always hastens to rectify it. He will +receive only what he is entitled to. Robert," he added, addressing an +other pupil, "how is it with regard to lost articles?" + +"When we find anything that has been lost," replied the boy addressed, +"we should try to ascertain the owner, and return the article to him." + +"Is there any guilt in neglecting to do this?" + +"Yes, sir, it is a kind of dishonesty." + +"You are right," added the teacher; "the courts often punish men for +this very offence, for it is a species of theft. And how of borrowing +articles, and neglecting to return them,--is that honest?" + +"It is not," replied Robert. + +"Oscar," continued the teacher, "you may give your opinion of this +case: suppose one of your acquaintances wants a certain article +belonging to you, and by way of barter, offers you a finger-ring for +it. You take it for granted that the ring is gold, but a week or two +after the bargain is concluded, you discover that it is of brass, and +of no value what ever. The other boy knew all the while it was brass, +and also knew you supposed it was gold. What should you say of such a +transaction? Was it honest?" + +Oscar turned red, and looked confused, as this question was put to him. +It was a minute or two before he made any reply, and then he said, in a +hesitating manner: + +"If the other boy did n't _tell_ me it was gold, I don't see as he was +to blame." + +"But we will suppose there was no need of his telling you so," added +the master; "we will suppose he managed the bargain so adroitly, that +you never suspected he was not dealing fairly with you. In that case, +should you think he had acted honestly towards you?" + +"No, sir," replied Oscar, but it came out with the utmost reluctance. + +"Certainly not," said the teacher; "it is dishonest to take advantage +of another's ignorance, or simplicity, or necessity, in a bargain. +Overreaching in trade is often dignified with the name of shrewdness, +but, for all that, it is contrary to the rule of honesty. And now I +have one more question to ask you: After you have discovered how your +comrade has imposed upon you, what should you expect of him?" + +Oscar made no reply. + +"Should you not expect him to make full restitution?" + +"Yes, sir," he replied, in a scarcely audible voice. + +"Of course you would," continued the master; "and if he refused, he +would deserve double punishment." + +Several other forms of dishonesty were then considered, such as the +following;--withholding from another his just dues; contracting debts +which we know we cannot pay, or making promises we know we cannot +fulfil; wasting or injuring the property of others, &c. In concluding, +the teacher remarked, that it was not very pleasant to feel that we had +been wronged and cheated; but there was another feeling, a +thousand-fold more to be dreaded--the feeling that we have wronged and +cheated others. And so ended the moral lesson for that morning. + +The particular bearing of this lesson upon Oscar, and the pertinency of +the "case" he was called to decide upon, were not generally known to +the class, though their suspicions might have been somewhat excited by +his confusion, and his reluctance to answer the questions put to him. +The teacher had been informed of Oscar's dishonest bargain by the boy +who suffered from it, and he chose this way to impress upon him the +immorality of the transaction. He concluded, however, to give him an +opportunity to make a voluntary restitution, and so no further +reference was made to the matter. + +Oscar was wise enough to heed the warning. Before night, the brass +dog-collar and the ivory pocket-comb were returned to their rightful +owner. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SICKNESS. + +"You have got a bad cold, Oscar," said Mrs. Preston one evening towards +the close of winter, as Oscar came in from his play, and was seized +with a coughing spell. "And no wonder," she added, on glancing at his +feet; "why, do you see how wet the bottoms of your pantaloons are? I +should like to know where you have been, to get so wet--it is strange +that you will not keep out of the water." + +"I should like to know how anybody could help getting wet feet this +weather, with the slosh up to your knees," said Oscar. + +"I could walk about the streets all day without going over my shoes," +replied his mother, "and so could you, if you tried to. I believe you +go through all the mud-puddles you can find, just to see how wet you +can get. But it won't do for you to sit down in this condition. Take +off your wet boots, and run up stairs and put on a pair of dry +pantaloons and some dry stockings, and then you may sit down to the +fire and warm yourself." + +"I don't want to change my pantaloons and stockings," said Oscar; "I +'ll take off my boots and dry myself--that will do just as well." + +"No it won't," replied his mother; "you had better change your clothes, +for you've got a real bad cold now, and I don't want you to get any +more. Come, do you hear me? Run up to your chamber and put on some +dry clothes." + +Oscar paid no attention to the command, but after removing his wet +boots, sat down before the range to dry his feet and legs. Such +instances of disobedience were too common in the family to attract any +special notice, and Mrs. Preston said nothing more about the matter. + +Oscar, that afternoon, had been down to the shores of Charles River, +near Cambridge Bridge, with Alfred Walton and several other boys. They +had been amusing themselves upon the ice that had formed along the edge +of the river, and which was now breaking up. They loosened some of the +large cakes, and set them floating off upon the current towards the +ocean. It was in this way that Oscar got his feet so wet. + +The next afternoon, when school was dismissed, Oscar, forgetting his +wet feet and his cold, went again to the same place, with several of +his cronies. Tiger also accompanied the party, for his master seldom +went anywhere without him, except to school. The boys amused +themselves, as on the previous day, with shoving off large blocks of +ice into the stream, and with running rapidly over floating pieces that +were not large enough to bear them up. Sometimes they narrowly escaped +a ducking, so venturesome were they; and all of them got their feet +pretty thoroughly soaked. + +It happened, after awhile, that a cake of ice upon which the boys were +all standing, got disengaged from the shore, unperceived by them, and +commenced floating into the river. They were all at work upon another +ice-block, trying to push it off, and did not notice that they were +going off themselves, until they were several feet from the shore. The +distance was too great to leap, and the water was so deep that none of +them dared to jump off from their precarious footing. + +"Well, this is a pretty joke," said one of the boys, with some +appearance of alarm. "I should like to know how we are going to get +out of this scrape?" + +"Get out of it?--who wants to get out of it?" replied Oscar. "I don't, +for one--we shall have a first-rate sail down into the harbor; shan't +we, Alf?" + +"The tide will take us right under the bridge, and I 'm going to climb +up one of the piers," said Alfred, who appeared to be thinking more of +a way of escape than of the pleasures of the trip. + +"Pooh, I shan't get off there," said Oscar. "I 'm in for a sail, and +if the rest of you back out, I shan't. You 'll go too, won't you, Tom?" + +Before Tom could answer, they all began to notice that their ice-cake +gave signs that the burden upon it was greater than it could safely +bear. The swift current began to whirl it about in a rather +uncomfortable manner, and it was gradually settling under water. They +all began to be very much alarmed--all but Tiger, who did not quite +comprehend the situation of affairs, and who looked up into the boys' +faces with an expression of curiosity, as though he wanted to say: + +"I wonder what mischief these little rogues are up to now?" + +Several people who were crossing the bridge now noticed the perilous +situation of the boys, and stopped to look at them. As soon as Alfred +noticed them, he cried out slowly, at the top of his voice: + +"Halloo, there! send us a boat, will you? we 're sinking!" + +[Illustration: Afloat on the Ice.] + +There was some doubt whether the people on the bridge understood the +cry, and the other boys repeated it as loud as they could, in the +meantime also trying to manifest their want by signs and gestures. +Some of the spectators upon the bridge, who were now quite numerous, +shouted back in reply; but the boys, being to their windward, could not +understand what they said. Their frail support was now moving rapidly +along, and whirling about in the eddies more alarmingly than ever. It +had sunk so low that they were all standing in the water, and they +expected it would shortly break to pieces and precipitate them all into +the river. There were four of them upon the cake, besides the dog. +The two youngest boys began to cry with fright; but Oscar and Alfred, +though they were as much alarmed as the others, did not manifest it in +this way, but were looking anxiously towards the bridge and the shore +for relief. + +The boys were not long kept in this dreadful state of suspense; for +pretty soon they discovered a boat putting out towards them from the +end of the bridge. There were two men in it, each of whom was plying +an oar. They called out to the boys not to be frightened, and in a few +minutes they were alongside the fugitive ice-cake, whose living freight +was safely transferred to the boat. The boatmen then pulled for the +wharf from which they came, and the rescued party had the pleasure of +standing once more upon firm ground. They were so overjoyed at their +escape that they forgot to thank the men who had taken so much trouble +to rescue them. They were not ungrateful however; though it would have +been better if their words as well as their looks had expressed the +sentiment they felt. As soon as they reached the wharf, the men +advised them to run home and dry themselves, which they proceeded to do. + +When Oscar reached home, he was so hoarse, from hallooing, that he +could not speak aloud. When his mother heard of his exposure, and saw +how wet he was, she was much concerned for him. She wished him to +change his damp clothing, but he did not think it necessary, and +instead of complying with her desire, he sat down to the fire and dried +himself. He had but little appetite for supper; and a headache coming +on in the evening, he retired to bed early. Before dong so, however, +he took a dose of medicine which his mother had prepared, to "throw +off" his cold. + +After a feverish and restless night--in which, in his troubled dreams, +Oscar had floated to sea upon a small piece of ice, and, after a long +agony, foundered alone in fathomless waters--he awoke in the morning +feeling very strangely. Every few moments a cold chill ran through his +body, that made him shiver until the bed trembled beneath him. His +head ached badly, and there was also a pain in his back. He tried to +raise himself up, but his arms had lost their strength, and he was +barely able to support himself a moment upon his elbow. By-and-bye his +brothers, who slept in the same room in another bed, got up, and Oscar +informed them that he was too weak to get off the bed. They soon +called in their father and mother, who, after looking at the sick boy, +concluded to send for a physician. + +After breakfast, Ralph was despatched for the doctor, who soon arrived, +and was conducted into Oscar's chamber. Seating himself upon the +bedside, he took the sick boy's wrist into his hand, and began to talk +with him very pleasantly, asking him various questions about his +feelings, the manner in which he took cold, &c. Having ascertained all +the facts and symptoms of the case, he told the family he thought Oscar +was suffering from an attack of lung fever, and he then gave directions +as to the manner in which the disease should be treated. He also wrote +a recipe for some medicine, to be procured at the apothecary's. The +terms used in it were Latin, and very much abbreviated, besides, so +that they were unintelligible to Mrs. Preston; for this is a custom +among physicians, that has come down from ancient times. Seeing Mrs. +Preston was in some doubt about the prescription, he explained to her +what the articles were that composed it, and the effect they would have +upon the patient. + +After the doctor had gone, it was decided to remove Oscar into another +chamber, in a lower story, where he would be more comfortable, and +where, also, it would be more convenient to wait upon him. Wrapping +him up warmly in the bed-clothes, his father took him in his arms, and +carried him to the room he was to occupy for the present. + +In spite of his medicine, Oscar continued to grow worse, through the +day. He longed for night to come, that he might go to sleep; but when +it came, it did not bring with it the refreshing slumber of health. +Short naps and troubled dreams alternated with long, weary hours of +wakefulness; and the sun, at its next rising, found him sicker than +before. The pains in his head and chest were more severe; his skin was +hot and dry; his cheeks were flushed with fever; he breathed with +difficulty, and his cough had become quite distressing. He felt cross +and fretful, too, and nothing that was done for him seemed to give him +satisfaction. He was unwilling that any one should attend upon him, +except his mother, and refused to receive his food or medicine from any +hand but hers. If she happened to be absent from his room more than a +few moments, when he was awake, he would insist upon her being called +back. + +But though Oscar would not allow his mother to leave him, she did not +suit him much better than the other members of the family. It was with +considerable difficulty that she could coax him to take the medicines +the doctor had ordered. Then she was obliged to deny him all forms of +nourishment, except a little gum-arabic water,--an arrangement at which +he complained a good deal. + +Oscar's fever continued to run for more than a week, the violence of +the disease increasing from day to day. Then a favorable change took +place, and the doctor told him the fever had turned, and he was getting +better. For a day or two before this, however, he was very ill; so +ill, indeed, that he submitted to whatever the doctor ordered, without +a word of complaint. He felt that there was danger, and he dare not +stand in the way of the means used for his recovery. To this, perhaps, +he owed the favorable turn the disease had taken; for had he refused to +take his medicines, as he did at the commencement of his sickness, or +even had he only engaged in a fruitless but exhausting contest with his +mother, the scale might have turned the other way, and the fever ended +in death. + +Getting better! That was the best news Oscar had heard for many a day. +He almost wanted to kiss the lips that spoke those encouraging words. +He always liked Dr. Liscom, but never so well as at that moment. It +was good news to all the household, too, and flew quickly from one to +another. In fact, the children grew so jubilant over it, that their +mother had to remind them that Oscar was yet too sick to bear any noise +in the house. + +"O dear," said George, "I 've got tired of keeping so still. How long +will it be before we can make a real good noise, mother?" + +"And how long before I can sing, and practice my music-lessons, +mother?" inquired Ella. + +"And how long before Oscar can go out and play?" inquired Ralph, more +thoughtful for his sick brother than for himself. + +"I can't tell," replied their mother; "you must all keep still a few +days longer, for Oscar is very weak now, and the noise disturbs him. +The doctor thinks it will take several weeks for him to get fully well, +but he will soon be able to sit up, I hope." + +The next morning, Oscar felt decidedly better, and so he continued to +improve day by day. But his old impatience soon began to return. He +grumbled every time the hour returned to take his drops, and he fairly +rebelled against the food that was prepared for him--a little weak +gruel, when his appetite was clamoring for a hearty meal of beef and +potatoes! During his sickness, many little delicacies had been sent in +to him by friends and neighbors, and from most of these too he was +still debarred by the inexorable doctor. He teased his mother to let +him have things the doctor had forbidden, and was offended with her +when she refused. He thus made a great deal of unnecessary trouble and +suffering for his mother, who had served him so devotedly through this +sickness that her own health was giving way. + +A day or two after his fever turned, Oscar wished to sit up in a chair, +and begged very hard to be allowed to get up from the bed. + +"Why, Oscar," said his mother, "you could not sit up two minutes, if I +should put you in a chair. You have no idea how weak you are." + +"No, I aint weak," replied Oscar; "I bet you I can walk across the room +just as well as you can--you don't know how strong I 've grown within a +day or two. Come, mother, do let me get up, will you?" + +"You are crazy to talk so, my son," answered Mrs. Preston. "If you +should try to stand up, you would faint away as dead as a log. It will +be a week before you are strong enough to walk about." + +"I believe you mean to keep me sick as long as you can," was Oscar's +unfeeling reply. "I am tired almost to death of laying a-bed," he +added, and the tears began to gather in his eyes. + +His mother felt hurt by these words, but she attributed them to the +weakening and irritating influence of disease, and forgave them as +quickly as they were uttered. She even yielded to his wishes so far as +to offer to let him sit up in bed a little while. He gladly acceded to +the proposal, and putting his arms around her neck, she slowly raised +him up; but he had no sooner reached an upright position than his head +began to "fly round like a top," and he was very glad to be let down +again to his pillow. This little experiment satisfied him for the day. + +It was a fine April morning when Oscar was first taken up from his sick +bed, and placed in an easy chair, well lined with blankets and +comforters. This was a memorable event in his life, the first time he +sat up after nearly three weeks' confinement to his bed. He was +dragged to the front window, from which he could see the people upon +the street below. How familiar, and yet how strange, everything and +everybody looked to his sick eyes! And then, to have his toast and +drink set before him upon a corner of the table, where he could help +himself, and eat and drink with some comfort,--was n't that "grand," to +use his own expressive term! + +Oscar's recovery was now pretty rapid, but his mother had to watch him +very sharply, to prevent him from running into excesses, to which his +impatience continually prompted him. It was hard to make him realize +that there was yet some danger of a relapse, and that prudence would be +necessary for several weeks to come. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +GETTING WELL. + +Oscar had reason to remember the first time he went down stairs, after +his fit of sickness. It was in the night-time. He awoke, feeling +quite hungry; for he was yet kept on a spare diet, which was far from +satisfying the cravings of his appetite. He was alone in his room, and +all the rest of the family were asleep. A lamp was burning dimly in +the fire-place of his chamber, and the door that led into his mother's +room was open, that she might be ready, at the least sound of alarm. +After thinking the matter over a few minutes, and satisfying himself +that no one in the house was awake, he determined to go down stairs in +quest of something to eat. + +"What is the use of starving a fellow to death, because he has been +sick!" he said to himself. "I might as well die one way as another; +and if there 's anything to eat in the house, I'm bound to have it. I +'ve lived on slops and toasted bread three weeks, and I can't stand it +any longer." + +He accordingly got up, and taking the lamp, stole very cautiously into +the entry, and down stairs, having nothing but his night-clothes upon +him. The snapping of the stairs, under his tread, was the only noise +that was heard, and this did not awake any of the household. He +proceeded at once to the kitchen closet, and commenced helping himself +with a free hand to its contents. He began upon a dish of corned beef +and vegetables, from which he partook quite liberally. He then hastily +swallowed a piece of mince-pie, and a slice or two of cake, when, the +night air beginning to feel chilly, he hurried back to bed. This last +operation was by no means so easy as he had imagined it would be. His +knees were very weak and "shaky," and it seemed as though they could +not support him, when he undertook to go up stairs. He was alarmed, +and would have given up the attempt, and called for help, but for the +dread of being caught in such a flagrant act of disobedience. So he +persisted in his efforts, and finally reached his chamber, quite +exhausted. + +After a heavy and troubled sleep, Oscar awoke in the morning, feeling +quite wretchedly. As soon as his mother entered the room, her quick +eye detected the unfavorable change; but he did not seem inclined to +complain much of his feelings, and appeared averse to conversing about +them. She ascertained, however, after awhile, that Oscar was more +feverish than he had been, that he had a severe pain in his chest, and +that his cough was worse. Many were the surmises thrown out, by his +father and mother, as to the probable cause of this change in his +symptoms; but as for himself, he seemed entirely at a loss to account +for the mystery, and left them to form their own conjectures. + +The doctor, who now visited Oscar only two or three times a week, was +sent for after breakfast. When he arrived, he questioned Mrs. Preston +very closely as to the manner in which the patient had been treated, +and he also addressed many inquiries to Oscar; but he learned nothing +from either that could account for the renewed attack of fever. He sat +a few moments, in a thoughtful mood, seemingly at a loss what to say, +when Oscar, who had complained much of nausea for the last half hour, +began to show symptoms of vomiting. A basin was brought, and the +contents of his stomach were quickly discharged into it. + +The mystery was now explained. Mrs. Preston looked on in silent +astonishment, while the doctor could hardly repress his anger at this +exhibition of the contents of his patient's stomach. There were great +pieces of unmasticated meat and potato, mixed up with a porridge of +half-dissolved pie and cake, the whole forming a medley of hearty and +indigestible substances, that would have taxed the strong stomach of a +healthy man. + +"Well," said the doctor, turning to Mrs. Preston, when Oscar got +through, "what does all this mean?" + +"I know not; you must ask him," replied Mrs. Preston. + +The same question, put to Oscar, brought from him a reluctant +confession of the last night's folly. When he had concluded, the +doctor arose, and taking his hand, said: + +"I will bid you good-bye. It's of no use for me to attend upon you any +longer, if you abuse my confidence in this way. If you want to kill +yourself I won't stand in your way. Good morning." + +Before Oscar recovered from his astonishment, the doctor had reached +the entry. Addressing his mother who was following him, he said: + +"Call him back, mother--tell him I won't do so again--call him back." + +The doctor heard the message, and returned. + +"I will consent to prescribe for you only on one condition," he said; +"and that is, that you will agree to do precisely as I tell you to. +You must take the medicines I order, and eat only what I tell you to, +or I will have nothing more to do with you. Do you agree to that?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar. + +The doctor resumed his seat, and felt the patient's pulse. He had not +yet got entirely over his irritation, and, turning to Mrs. Preston, he +remarked: + +"If the patient was a little stronger, my first prescription would be a +smart external application of birch or ratan; but, as it is, we shall +have to omit that for the present. You need not think you will escape +punishment, however," he continued, turning to Oscar. "This scrape of +yours will put you back more than one week and if you are not careful +you may never get your health again. You may trifle with the doctor, +but you can't trifle with the lung fever." + +The doctor then gave directions as to Oscar's diet and medicine, and +departed, but not until he had again warned him against leaving the +room without his mother's consent, or eating any articles forbidden by +her. + +Oscar found no opportunity after this to evade the commands of the +doctor, had he been so disposed, for some one was always with him by +day and night. Still, his recovery seemed to have been checked very +much by his relapse, and the doctor's skill was taxed pretty severely +to bring the fever to a favorable termination. As it was, his attempt +was not fully successful; for the fever, in spite of all he could do, +left behind it a cough, and a weakness of the lungs, which gave Oscar's +parents no little alarm at times. + +For a fortnight after his midnight supper, Oscar allowed his mother and +the doctor to do just as they pleased with him. He yielded to their +wishes, and their orders were law to him. At the end of that time the +doctor discontinued his regular visits. Oscar was now able to go +out-doors a little in very pleasant weather; but his cough rendered +prudence still very necessary. His confinement, however, was daily +growing more irksome, and sometimes he disregarded the positive +commands of his parents by going out when the weather was unsuitable. + +One morning, a menagerie, or collection of wild beasts, was to enter +the city in grand procession. There were to be several elephants and +camels on foot, besides hundreds of other animals (invisible) in +carriages. There was also to be a mammoth gilt chariot, filled with +musicians, and drawn by ever so many horses. The procession was to +pass very near the street where Oscar lived, and he intended to go and +see it; but when the morning came, there was a cold, drizzling rain, +with an uncomfortable east wind, and his mother told him he must not +think of going out. He did think of it, however, and not only thought +of it, but went. While his mother was up stairs, he quietly slipped +out, and went to the corner the procession was expected to pass. There +he waited about an hour, until he became thoroughly wet and chilled, +and then returned home, without seeing the sight; for the showmen had +shortened their intended route on account of the storm. He entered the +house, vexed by his disappointment and the uncomfortable plight he was +in; and when his mother mildly reproved him for his conduct, and +entreated him to be more careful of himself, he only replied that he +did not wish to live, if he must be shut up in the house all the time. +This act of imprudence and disobedience made him a close prisoner in +the house for several days, besides causing him no little suffering. + +Oscar employed much of his leisure time in reading, during his +confinement in-doors. His acquaintances lent him many interesting +books, with which he beguiled the weary hours. One day, happening to +think of a volume belonging to his classmate, Benjamin Wright, which he +thought he should like to read, he sent word by Ralph that he wished to +borrow it. The next morning Benjamin brought it to school, and Ralph +took it home to Oscar. On removing the paper in which it was wrapped +up, a letter dropped out, which Oscar found was directed to himself. +He opened it, and a smile lit up his countenance as he glanced over the +sheet, which was filled up with drawings and writing of an amusing +character. Benjamin was quite famous among the boys for the skill and +facility with which he made sketches, and in this letter he had given a +curious specimen of his artistic talent. The following is a copy of +this production: + + +DEAR OSCAR: + + I am sorry to hear you 're in weakness and pain, + And I send you a book to beguile your tired brain; + I send also some puzzles, to stir up your wit, + And tempt you to laugh, when you really don't feel like it one bit! + +[Illustration: A Queer Name.] + + What a queer name! + + What do we all do when we first get into bed? + Why is swearing like an old coat? + What is that which is lengthened by being cut at both ends? + + My first, if you do, you won't hit; + My second, if you do, you will have it; + My whole, if you do, you won't guess it. + +[Illustration: The Double Face.] + + Turn me over, pray. + + A word there is, five syllables contains; + Take one away, no syllable remains. + + What is that which is lower with a head than without one? + Who was the first whistler? + What tune did he whistle? + How do you swallow a door? + What is that which lives in winter, dies in summer, and + grows with its root upwards? + If you were to tumble out of the window, what would you fall against? + +[Illustration: The Cat-Erect.] + + Why is this like the Falls of Niagara? + If my puzzles are simple, and my pictures a fright, + Then just laugh at me, and it will all + B. WRIGHT. + + +This letter was the prime source of attraction to all the children, the +rest of the day; and its reception formed an era in Oscar's sick-day +experience, not easily to be forgotten. All the family, from Mr. +Preston down to little George, set themselves to work to guess out the +riddles; but in some of them, they found more than their match. To +Oscar, however, the letter was something more than a collection of +drawings and puzzles. It was a token of interest and sympathy from a +boy towards whom he had never manifested a very friendly spirit. +Benjamin's high standing in the school, both for scholarship and +behavior, had awakened in Oscar a secret feeling of jealousy or +resentment towards him. He was a poor boy, too, and this by no means +increased Oscar's respect for him. But now, Oscar began to feel +ashamed of all this; and as instances of his unkind treatment of his +generous classmate came up in remembrance, he wished he had the power +to blot them from existence. He determined thenceforth to "stand up" +for Benjamin, and began to plan some way of making a return for his +manifestation of good feeling. + +Ella wanted to carry Benjamin's letter to school, to show to the girls, +but Oscar would not allow it to go out of his hands. She then begged +the privilege of copying it, to which he consented. She did the best +she could, no doubt, but her drawings probably did not quite do justice +to the subjects; for Oscar declared that her copy was more comical than +the original. She lent it to some of her schoolmates, one of whom was +roguish enough to show it to Benjamin himself! He laughed heartily at +the caricature; but thinking it was getting him rather more notoriety +than he wished, he put it in his pocket, and that was the end of it. + +In consequence of his many acts of imprudence, Oscar got along very +slowly in his recovery. Yet he was daily growing more impatient of his +long confinement, and the utmost vigilance of his parents was necessary +to restrain him from doing himself harm. During stormy weather, which +was not rare at that season of the year, he was not allowed to go out, +and the time passed heavily with him. One rainy afternoon, as he was +sitting listlessly at a front window, watching for some object of +interest to pass, a coach stopped at the door, and his heart beat high +at the thought of his dulness being dispelled by the arrival of +"company." The driver opened the coach door, and out jumped a stout, +brown-faced man, whom Oscar at once recognized as his uncle, John +Preston, from Maine. + +The arrival of Uncle John was soon heralded through the house, and a +warm greeting extended to him. He usually visited the city thrice a +year on business, and on such occasions made his brother's house his +stopping-place. He lived in the town of Brookdale, where he had a +family; but he was engaged in the lumber business, and generally spent +the winter months in the forests of Maine, with large gangs of loggers, +who were employed to cut down trees, and convey them to the banks of +the streams, where they were floated down to the mills in the spring +freshets. These forests are far from any settlement, and the +lumber-men live in log-huts, in a very independent and care-for-nobody +sort of way. Oscar had often heard his uncle describe their manner of +life, and, to him, there was something quite fascinating about it. He +thought he should like the logging business very much--all but the +_working_ part of it; he was afraid that would spoil the whole, for his +Uncle John always represented it as being pretty hard work. + +Oscar had four cousins in Brookdale, the children of his Uncle John, +none of whom he had ever seen. He had many questions to ask about +them, in the course of which he expressed a wish that he might visit +them. His uncle replied that he should like to take him home with him, +and, as he was sick, he thought the journey might do him good. He +afterwards talked with Oscar's parents about the matter, and they +finally concluded to let him go, hoping that a few weeks in the country +would improve his health. + + +NOTE.--The following are the solutions of the puzzles, &c., in +Benjamin's letter, contained in this chapter. The first puzzle is the +name of Oscar Preston, enigmatically expressed. 2. Make an impression. +3. It is a bad habit. 4. A ditch. 5. Mistake. 6. Monosyllable. 7. A +pillow. 8. The wind. 9. "Over the hills and far away." 10. Bolt it. +11. An icicle. 12. Against your inclination. 13. It is a cataract +(cat erect). + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE JOURNEY. + +Oscar's valise was well packed for his journey, and many were the +injunctions given him by his mother, in regard to his conduct during +his absence from home. The morning for his departure soon came, and, +in company with his uncle, he proceeded to the depot, and took the cars +for Portland. It was a mild spring morning, near the close of May. +Oscar secured a seat by a window, from which he could see the country +they passed through; while his uncle, to whom the journey was no +novelty, seated himself by his side, and was soon absorbed in his +morning newspaper. + +The keen relish with which Oscar set out upon his long ride gradually +wore off, and he began to feel weary long before the train reached its +destination. It was just noon when they arrived at Portland; and as it +was too late to reach Brookdale that day, Oscar's uncle concluded to +stop there until the next morning. They proceeded to a hotel, where +they booked their names, and were shown to a chamber. After dinner, +Mr. Preston took Oscar to walk, and showed him some of the most notable +places about town. But the latter felt too tired to walk about a great +deal, and spent most of the afternoon in the hotel, while his uncle was +off attending to some business. + +After supper, Mr. Preston again went out to make some calls. He +invited Oscar to go with him, but he preferred to remain in the hotel. +He lounged awhile in the bar-room, as it was called (though there was +no bar in it), listening to the conversation of the men who had +gathered there. At length, beginning to grow sleepy, he retired to his +chamber, taking with him a queer little lamp the landlord gave him, +which appeared to hold only about a thimblefull of oil. Oscar thought +it was a stingy contrivance, and had some notion of sitting up to see +how long it would burn; but his eyelids grew heavy, and he gave up the +idea. Throwing off his clothing, he extinguished his diminutive lamp, +and took possession of one of the beds in the room, of which there were +two. As he composed himself to sleep, a slight sense of lonesomeness +stole over him, when he remembered that he was alone in a strange house +and a strange city, more than a hundred miles from his home; and almost +unconsciously he found himself reverently repeating the little prayer +he had been taught by his mother in infancy, but which of late years, +in his sad waywardness, he had outgrown and almost forgotten: + + "Now I lay me down to sleep, + I pray the lord my soul to keep; + If I should die before I wake, + I pray the lord my soul to take." + + +He had occasionally repeated to himself this simple but appropriate +evening petition during his late illness; but, strange to tell, for +several years previous to that time, the thought of asking anything of +the great Giver of all good had scarcely ever entered his mind. + +Oscar was soon fast asleep, and the next thing he was conscious of was +the striking of a strange church-clock, that awoke him in the morning. +His uncle was dressing himself, and the sun was shining in at the +window. For a moment, he was puzzled to determine where he was; but +his recollection returned when his uncle remarked: + +"Come, Oscar, it is time to get up,--we have got to be at the depot in +an hour." + +Oscar jumped out of bed, and was dressed and ready for the breakfast +table before the bell rang. After the morning meal was +despatched,--for it was literally a work of despatch, judging from the +celerity with which the heaping plates of hot biscuits and beef-steak +disappeared from the long table,--Mr. Preston settled with the +landlord, and proceeded with Oscar to the railroad depot. + +"How much further have we got to go?" inquired Oscar, after they had +taken their seat in the car. + +"About one hundred and twenty miles," replied his uncle; "and +thirty-five of it will be in a stage-coach--that is the worst of the +whole journey." + +"I shall like that part of it first-rate, I guess," said Oscar. "If +they have good horses, I know I shall." + +"You will find out how you like it, before night," added Mr. Preston, +with a smile. + +The cars were soon on their way, and Oscar's eyes and attention were +fully engaged in taking note of the scenery from the windows. The +appearance of the country did not differ much from that through which +he passed the day previous; and long before he reached the end of his +eighty-miles' ride, his attention began to flag, and his eyes to grow +weary. It was about eleven o'clock, when they arrived at the depot at +which they were to leave the train. Here they had an opportunity to +rest an hour, and to take dinner, before resuming their journey. + +After dinner, the stage-coach made its appearance, and the passengers +began to stow themselves away within it, Oscar mounted the outside, and +took a seat with the driver, with whom he was soon on intimate terms. +All things being ready, the horses started, at the familiar "Get up!" +and they were on their way toward Brookdale. + +The horses did not prove quite so smart as Oscar hoped they would, and +the coach was a heavy and hard-riding concern, compared with those he +was accustomed to ride upon at home. But the road was good, though +hilly, and the scenery, much of the way, was very pleasant. The +driver, too, was quite talkative, and Oscar being the only outside +passenger, enjoyed the full benefit of his communicativeness. +Occasionally they passed through a village, with its rows of neat white +houses, its tall church steeple, its bustling store, and its groups of +children playing in the streets. Now and then they stopped a few +moments, to leave a passenger, a package, or a mail-bag; for the strong +leathern bags, with brass padlocks, which the driver had carefully +packed away under his box, contained the United States' mails for the +towns along his route. + +As they advanced on their way, the villages became less frequent, the +farm houses were more scattering, and the country grew more wild. +Sometimes the road extended for miles through thickly-wooded forests. +Occasionally they would come in sight of a river, and, perhaps, would +hear the clatter and whizzing of a saw-mill, or get a glimpse of a raft +of logs floating lazily down the stream. It was about six o'clock when +the stage stopped at the post-office of a small settlement, and the +driver told Oscar he was going to leave him there. His seat had grown +tiresome, during the last few hours, and he was by no means sorry to +leave it. + +"Well, Jerry, here I am again," said Mr. Preston, addressing a boy who +stood by. "How are all the folks at home?" + +"They are well," replied the boy addressed. + +"This way Oscar," said Mr. Preston, pointing to a horse and wagon on +the opposite side of the street. "Oscar, this is your cousin Jerry," +he continued, and the boys shook hands with each other, in +acknowledgment of the introduction. + +Oscar now learned that they were yet five miles from Brookdale, and +that as the stage did not pass any nearer to his uncle's, Jerry had +come over with a horse to take his father home. There being but one +seat to the wagon, Mr. Preston and Oscar took possession of it, while +Jerry seated himself on the floor behind them. While on the way to +Brookdale, Oscar addressed several remarks to his cousin; but the +latter seemed shy, and they did not get acquainted with each other very +fast. They passed but very few houses, and Oscar looked in vain for +any signs of a village. At length, when he thought they could not be +far from their journey's end, he inquired: + +"Where is the village, uncle John? Shan't we see any of it, going to +your house?" + +"This is the village," replied Mr. Preston. + +"This a village!" exclaimed Oscar; "why, I don't see any houses." + +"This is all the village there is," replied his uncle; "there are +hardly any two houses in sight of each other in the town." + +They were now approaching an old, two-story farmhouse, in the doorway +of which a woman and several children were standing, looking towards +them. This proved to be the end of their journey. Having driven the +wagon into the large barn which stood nearly opposite the house, Mr. +Preston left Jerry to put up the horse, and proceeded at once to the +house with his nephew. Mrs. Preston had seen Oscar in Boston, and came +out to meet him. She welcomed him very cordially, and inquired after +all the other members of the family. She then introduced him to his +three other cousins, Emily, Harriet, and Mary, all of whom were younger +than Jerry, and quite as shy and silent as he, at the presence of a +stranger. + +Supper was now ready, and all the family, including James, the hired +man, seated themselves at the table. Mr. Preston, during the meal, +talked freely of what he had seen and done since he left home; but the +children maintained their gravity and silence, though Oscar tried hard +to break the ice of restraint with Jerry, who sat by his side. A +strange face was an unusual thing among them, and they could not get +over it in a moment. + +After supper, Mrs. Preston and her oldest daughter cleared off the +table and washed the dishes; James and Jerry went out to the barn; Mr. +Preston sat down to a table to examine some papers he had in his +pocket-book; while Harriet and Mary remained, to keep Oscar company. +The latter now began to make advances towards his youngest cousin, who +was the prettiest and most interesting of the children. A little +coaxing brought her to his side. + +"Do you know what my name is, Sissy?" he inquired. + +"Yes; it's Oscar," she replied. + +"Oscar what?" he inquired. + +"Cousin Oscar," she answered, after a little hesitation. + +"Yes, but that is n't all of it," replied Oscar; "don't you know the +other part of it--Cousin Oscar----what?" + +Mary looked thoughtful a moment, and then replied, in a confident tone, +"Boston." + +Oscar could not help laughing at this amusing mistake, and Mary, +feeling hurt at the liberty he took, began to move away; but he held +her by the hand, saying: + +"No, don't go yet, Sissy--you got my name almost right, after all. +Cousin Oscar Preston, from Boston,--that was what you meant to say, was +n't it?" + +"Yes," replied Mary. + +"Now tell me what your name is?" continued Oscar. + +"Mary Preston," she replied. + +"And how old are you?" + +"I 'm going to be six next winter," she answered, with animation. + +"Very well,--you 're a smart little girl," replied Oscar. + +"How old be you?" inquired Mary, now turning the table upon her +questioner. + +"I 'm fourteen," said Oscar. + +"You 're a smart little boy," added Mary, with a roguish twinkle in her +eye, and she darted out of the room with a merry laugh. + +After that, there was no more shyness between Mary and Oscar. With the +older children, however, Oscar did not get acquainted quite so easily, +particularly with the girls. He made but little progress with any of +them that evening, until he retired with Jerry, with whom he was to +sleep during his visit. After they had got into bed, Jerry's tongue +was loosed, and before they went to sleep his reserve had almost +entirely vanished. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BROOKDALE. + +The next morning the air was extremely raw and chilly, and there were +strong indications of rain. Oscar's uncle and aunt advised him so +earnestly not to expose himself to the cold and damp wind, that he did +not extend his rambles any further than to the barn that day. But if +he did not go far, he made many new acquaintances. Having made sure of +Jerry and Mary, he left his other two cousins to "surrender at +discretion," and turned his attention in another direction. His first +performance was to introduce himself to Billy, the horse, who was +eating the breakfast James had just given him. After rubbing and +talking to him awhile, he paid his respects to a pair of oxen and three +or four cows, which he helped James and Jerry to drive into the pasture +near the barn. He next visited the hogs, and then the hens. This +completed the list of life stock on the farm. He then had a frolic +with Jerry in the hay-loft, in the midst of which he suddenly stopped +and inquired: + +"Is n't it almost time for you to go to school, Jerry?" + +"No," his cousin replied, with a laugh, "it wants just six months of +it." + +"Six months!" exclaimed Oscar; "what do you mean? Don't you go to +school?" + +"Yes, I go when there is any school; but it does n't commence till next +December," replied Jerry. + +"That's a queer idea," said Oscar; "I should like to know how long your +school keeps, after it begins." + +"It keeps three months," replied Jerry. + +"I should like that first-rate--I wish I lived here," said Oscar; "I +have to go to school all the time. But why does n't your school keep +more than three months?" + +"I don't know," replied Jerry; "I guess it's because folks are too +stingy to pay for it. They 've been talking of having a summer school, +but I don't believe it will amount to anything." + +"I should hope it would n't if I lived here," said Oscar. "What +capital times you must have!--no school to bother you, and no lessons +to get. But I suppose you have to work some--don't you?" + +"No, not much," said Jerry; "I help a little in planting and haying +time, and have a few chores to do about the house,--that's all." + +"Do you have many boys to play with?" inquired Oscar. + +"There are boys enough," replied his cousin, "but they are scattered +all over town,--that's the worst of it. There is only one fellow of my +age that lives near here, and he's half a mile off." + +"If you call that near, I should like to know what you call distant," +said Oscar. "I 'm afraid I should be lonesome if I lived here." + +"Halloo, it rains!" said Jerry, as the big drops began to sound upon +the roof over their heads. + +"Then I 'm going in," added Oscar, and they both started for the house. + +It proved to be a rainy day, and Oscar was obliged to find his +amusement in-doors through its remaining hours. With his four cousins +to help him, this was not a very difficult matter. When he retired at +night, he felt quite at home in his new quarters. + +The sun rose clearly the next morning, and everything looked the more +beautiful for the rain. To Oscar, the fields not only seemed greener, +but the hills looked higher, and the trees more majestic, than they did +the day before. + +"Why," he exclaimed, as he stood before the chamber window, "there is a +pond away off there, is n't there? I did n't know that before." + +"Yes, that's a pond," replied Jerry, "and we 've got a small river, +too, but you can't see it from here. We 'll go over to the pond, some +warm day, and go into water; it's a real good place to bathe." + +"Perhaps we 'll go to-day," said Oscar; "it looks as though it were +going to be real warm." + +Mrs. Preston now called to the boys that breakfast was ready, and they +hurriedly finished dressing themselves, and descended to the kitchen. +Having washed his face at the sink, Oscar stepped to the door, and used +his pocket-comb; but Jerry was in too great a hurry to go through this +last operation, and he was about taking his seat at the table, with his +hair standing up in every direction, when his father inquired: + +"Jerry, what have you been doing to your head?" + +"Nothing," replied Jerry, with a look of surprise. + +"Well, I think you had better do something to it, before you come +here," said his father. "Oscar will think you were brought up among +the wild Arabs, if you come to the table with such a mop of hair as +that about your head. Don't you see how nicely he has smoothed his +hair?" + +"He's got a comb of his own. I wish you would buy me one, father," +said Jerry. + +"Don't stand there talking--go and comb your hair," said Mr. Preston, +somewhat sharply. + +To tell the truth, Jerry did need a lesson in neatness; and in this +respect, Oscar was a very good model for him to imitate. Having +reduced his snarly locks to something like order and smoothness, Jerry +took his seat at the table, much improved in appearance. + +"You 'll have a chance to go about some to-day, Oscar," said Mr. +Preston; "it's about twenty-five degrees warmer than it was yesterday." + +"Father," said Jerry, "I and Oscar--" + +"I and Oscar--where did you learn your manners?" interrupted his mother. + +Jerry was for a moment in doubt whether to be offended or not at this +second unexpected lesson in good-breeding; but he finally concluded to +make the best of it, and went on with his story: + +"Oscar and I, then--were going over to the pond this forenoon, and I +guess it will be warm enough for us to go into water. Should n't you +think it would?" + +"No, indeed," replied Mr. Preston, "you mustn't think of such a thing. +It's only the first of June, and you ought not to go into water for two +or three weeks yet. Besides, Oscar 's an invalid, and I should n't +like to have him go in, even if it was warm enough for you. I would +n't walk about much, either, at first," he continued, addressing Oscar. +"You 're weak, and must look out, and not overdo yourself. This +afternoon, when the horse is at leisure, Jerry shall give you a ride; +so you had better not go far this forenoon." + +The river of which Jerry spoke is a small stream that has its source in +the lake Oscar saw from the chamber window. It flows in a +south-westerly direction, crossing the road on which Mr. Preston lived, +not far from his house. A small bridge is thrown over the river at +this point. After breakfast, Jerry and Oscar walked down to this +bridge, and then, leaving the road, followed the river through the +fields and woods, to its fountain-head. Here they found a beautiful +sheet of water, more than half a mile across, in one direction, with an +irregular shore, fringed most of the way with woods. A two-masted +sail-boat was riding at anchor, a little off from the shore, which +Oscar regarded with wishful eye; but as it did not belong to Mr. +Preston, and they could not reach it without going into the water, it +was of no use to think of taking a sail. They now walked along the +edge of the pond, some distance, and after wandering some time in the +woods, they returned home by a circuitous route. + +The annexed map of Brookdale will show the location of the pond, river, +&c. Jerry lived in the house numbered 2. + +[Illustration: Map of Brookdale.] + +Oscar and Jerry spent the rest of the forenoon in the barn and +wood-shed, and in the fields immediately around the house. After +dinner, Mr. Preston told the boys they could have the horse and wagon, +and as the family wanted some groceries, they might ride over to the +store and get them. They accordingly tackled up the team, and were +soon on their way. + +The store at which Mr. Preston traded was at the village where the +stage left Oscar, which goes by the name of the "Cross-Roads," from the +fact that two of the principal thoroughfares of that section of country +cross at this point. Though this store was about five miles distant, +there was no other one nearer to Mr. Preston's. The boys had a fine +ride over to the village. Oscar drove, and was quite anxious to put +Billy to a test of his speed; but as his uncle told them not to hurry, +because the horse had been worked some in the forenoon, he did not dare +to make any experiment of this kind. Jerry assured him, however, that +he once drove Billy over to the Cross-Roads in just twenty minutes, +which was the quickest time he had ever been known to make. He thought +this a remarkable feat; but Oscar did not seem much astonished at it, +and said he knew of horses that could go a mile in three minutes, and +even in less time if the road was smooth and level. + +After riding about three-quarters of an hour, they arrived at the +Cross-Roads, and drove up to a post and chain for tying horses in front +of the store. The store was kept in a large wooden building. Over the +door was the sign, "J. FLETCHER, VARIETY STORE;" and the shutters were +covered with columns of names of articles sold within, such as "Bacon," +"Cheese," "Flour," "Grain," "Shoes," "Dry Goods," &c. Another sign in +one of the windows indicated that this was also the post-office of the +village. + +The boys went into the store, and while Jerry was ordering the articles +his mother had sent for, Oscar improved the opportunity to look around +the premises. It was to him a queer assortment of goods. There seemed +to be a little of everything for sale. Here you could buy of one +salesman articles that you could obtain in Boston only by visiting a +dozen different shops. Groceries and dry goods, country produce and +hardware, boots, shoes, and hats, confectionary and fancy articles, +stoves and children's toys, were in most neighborly companionship. +Before leaving the store, Oscar invested a few cents in candy and +cigars; for his father had given him a little spare change beyond what +was necessary to defray the expenses of the journey. He shared the +candy with Jerry, and put the cigars in his pocket for future use. + +Jerry having finished his business at the store, they set out on their +return, and arrived home in safety and without meeting with any +remarkable adventure. The boys employed themselves the rest of the +afternoon in planning excursions and amusements, and before they got +through, they had laid out "fun" enough to occupy them for several days. + +The evenings were now quite short, and as it was the custom to retire +to bed early at Mr. Preston's, it frequently happened that no lamps +were lit in the house for several days in succession. As twilight came +on that evening, Oscar, who began to feel pretty tired, laid down upon +the sofa in the sitting-room, and in a few minutes was fast asleep. +Jerry got a straw, and was about to tickle his ear, when his mother +stopped him. Oscar's nap, however, was a short one, and suddenly +waking up, he began to laugh. + +"I guess you had a pleasant dream," said his aunt. + +"I had a real funny one," replied Oscar. "I thought you sent me over +to the store to get some things, and when I got there, I had them all +jumbled together in my head, and I told the man I wanted a yard of +molasses, and a pound of calico, and a gallon of shingle-nails, and I +did n't know what else. And I thought the man laughed, and asked me if +I would take them loose, or have them done up in a rag. Then another +boy that was in the store set up a loud laugh, and that woke me up. I +wonder how long I slept--do you know, aunt?" + +"Only two or three minutes," replied Mrs. Preston. + +"I was real smart, then," replied Oscar; "for you gave me my errand, +and I harnessed the horse and drove away over to the Cross-Roads, and +went through the scene in the store, and woke up again, all in two or +three minutes. I thought I 'd been asleep half an hour." + +"I should think you 'd dream about the store," said Jerry; "you 've +made fun enough about it, if that 's all." + +"Well, I 'll leave it to aunt if it is n't odd to see such a queer lot +of stuff in one store; I 've heard about country stores, but I never +saw one that would come up to that before. It is almost equal to going +into a fair, to go in there. There was everything you could think of, +from a grindstone to a pop-gun." + +"There is n't business enough to support more than one trader, and that +is the reason why Mr. Fletcher keeps such a variety," said Mrs. Preston. + +"I know that," said Oscar, "and I suppose the folks are glad to have +him keep all sorts of knick-knacks; but it seems queer to me, to see +groceries and dry goods, and everything else, in the same shop." + +"Did you see any babies there?" inquired little Mary, who was amusing +herself by walking around the room backwards. + +"What sort of babies--live ones, or rag ones, or wax ones?" inquired +Oscar. + +"No, none of them," replied Mary; "I mean crying babies, like Annie +Davenport's." + +"O, you mean those little dolls that make a squeaking noise when you +squeeze them. No, I believe I did n't see any," said Oscar. + +"No, Mr. Fletcher would n't keep such silly things as them," said +Jerry, who was very fond of teasing his sisters. + +"No, they aint silly, either, are they cousin Oscar?" said Mary. + +"No," replied Oscar, "seeing it's you, they aint silly." + +Mary was continuing her backward walk around the room, and was just at +that moment passing before Jerry, when he suddenly put out his foot, +and stumbling over it, she fell heavily upon the floor, striking her +head against a corner of the sofa. A loud scream immediately followed +this mishap, and as the author of it hastened to raise up his sister, +he was himself a little frightened; but seeing no blood flowing from +her head, he concluded she was "more scared than hurt," and tried to +turn the affair into a joke, saying: + +"There, sis, you're a little crying baby yourself, now. Come, stop +your noise; you 've blubbered enough about it. It didn't hurt you, did +it?" + +"Come here, dear, what is the matter?" said Mrs. Preston, who had left +the room a moment before, and hurried back on hearing Mary scream. + +"Jerry knocked me over," said Mary, sobbing bitterly, as her mother +lifted her up into her lap. + +"Where did it hurt you, dear?--there? Well, let mother rub it, and it +will feel better soon. Jerry is a naughty boy to do so. Why need you +torment your little sister so?" Mrs. Preston added, turning to Jerry. + +Mr. Preston, who had been sitting upon the door-step, smoking his pipe, +as was his custom in the evening, came in, on hearing the uproar; and +having ascertained what the trouble was, he boxed Jerry's ears pretty +severely, and sent him off to bed. Oscar soon followed him; but Jerry +was so mortified at the rough handling he had received, that he +scarcely spoke again that night. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +IN THE WOODS. + +It was soon evident that the air of Brookdale agreed with Oscar. He +was fast gaining his strength, and the increased fulness and color of +his countenance betokened returning health. No part of this +improvement was to be attributed to the bottle of cough drops his +mother packed away in the bottom of his valise, and charged him to take +every morning and night; for the drops were not very palatable, and he +had not opened the bottle since he left home. In fact, he had by this +time quite forgotten both the medicine and his mother's injunction. + +So rapid was the improvement in Oscar's health, that two or three days +after his trip to the Cross-Roads, Mr. Preston gave his consent to an +excursion he and Jerry had planned, which was to occupy a whole day. +"Old Staple's Hut," as it was called, was the place they proposed to +visit. It was about four miles distant, beyond the hills in the +north-east part of the town, represented in the upper corner of the map +of Brookdale. They were to carry their dinner, and Mrs. Preston +accordingly filled a small basket with eatables. While she was doing +this, Jerry took Oscar aside and said: + +"There is one thing more we want, and that is father's gun. I know he +won't let me have it, but I guess he would lend it to you, if you +should ask him." + +"Yes, we must have a gun," replied Oscar; "and I should just as lief +ask him for it as not." + +Oscar hunted up his uncle, and made known his request. Mr. Preston +hesitated a moment, and then inquired: + +"Does your father allow you to use a gun at home?" + +"He never says anything about it, either way," replied Oscar. + +"Well, I guess you had better not take the gun," said Mr. Preston. "I +'m afraid you might get hurt,--that's all I care about. I don't allow +Jerry to use firearms, and I should n't like to put anything of the +kind into your hands without your father's consent." + +"But I 'll be very careful if you 'll let me have it," added Oscar. "I +'ve fired a gun several times, and know how to handle it." + +"No, I think you had better not carry the gun with you," replied his +uncle. "If you used it, Jerry would think he must, and I know he is +too careless to be trusted with it. He 'd shoot you, just as like as +not, if he did n't kill himself." + +Mr. Preston's tone was so decided, that Oscar saw it would be useless +to say anything more about the gun, and so he and Jerry were obliged to +abandon the idea of taking it with them. Taking their basket of +provisions, they accordingly set out on their long tramp. Leaving the +road, and turning into a footpath through the fields, they passed close +by the upper edge of the pond. In this part of their walk there was a +good deal of swamp land, and a number of brooks to cross. Sometimes +they had to pick their way along upon stones which had been placed at +regular intervals in wet places, or upon old logs that served for +bridges; and at times it required no little skill in balancing to avoid +getting a wet foot. After they had got beyond the pond, however, the +land gradually ascended, and was mostly occupied as pastures for +cattle. But they still occasionally came to a brook, flowing down from +the hills towards the pond. Most of them were so narrow, they could +easily jump over them; but in one instance they were obliged to take +off their shoes and stockings and wade across. + +"Now you see why this place is called Brookdale," said Jerry, after +they had passed four or five of these little streams. + +"Is that the reason, because there are so many brooks? I never thought +of that before," said Oscar. + +"Yes, that's it," replied Jerry. "In the spring these brooks make +quite a show; but they get low in the summer, and generally dry up in +August, unless it's a very wet season." + +"I 'm going to cut me a cane," said Oscar, taking out his knife; "I see +a real straight and handsome one in there," and he pointed to a thicket +they were approaching. + +"That's nothing but birch--that won't make a good cane," replied Jerry; +"stop a minute, and I 'll find you something better." + +After looking about a little, Jerry found some beeches, which he said +would make good canes. They accordingly cut two of the straightest and +handsomest. + +"I mean to try an experiment with mine," said Oscar, "and see if I +can't crook the top of it. Do you know how they do it, Jerry?" + +"No, I always thought they grew in that shape," replied Jerry. + +"A man told me they boiled the end of the stick and then bent it," said +Oscar. "He said that was the way all the hooked canes were made. I +don't know whether he knew or not, but I mean to try it some day, and +see how it works." + +"I don't believe in that," said Jerry. "It is n't very likely you can +bend such a stick as that without breaking it; just see how stiff it +is." + +"I don't care, I'll try it, just to satisfy myself," replied Oscar. + +Oscar was right in regard to bending wood. The hooked-top +walking-sticks are made in the way he described,--by boiling the end, +and then bending it into an arch. In boiling wood, several substances +which enter into its composition are dissolved, and others are +softened, so that it is rendered flexible. + +The boys trudged slowly on their way, now aided by their canes, which, +in a long walk, are of no slight service to the pedestrian. As they +sauntered along, chatting, singing, and whistling, as merrily as the +birds around them, Oscar remembered the cigars he bought at the store, +and soon the pure atmosphere of the fields was polluted with the vile +odor of bad tobacco. Oscar had been in the habit of smoking +occasionally for some time; but though he considered it a manly +accomplishment, he was very careful not to let his parents know that he +was addicted to it. He prevailed upon his cousin to take a cigar; but +Jerry was not very partial to tobacco, and a few whiffs satisfied him +for that occasion. + +They had now reached the foot of the long, steep hills, over which they +must climb. These hills were thickly wooded most of the way, forming +beautiful groves, cool, dark, fragrant with resinous odors, and softly +carpeted with moss and decayed leaves. Oscar and Jerry concluded to +rest a few minutes before scaling the hills. Selecting a favorable +spot, they stretched themselves at full length upon the ground, and +looked up towards the distant tree-tops. It was a pine forest, and the +trees were as straight as an arrow, and so tall that their tops almost +seemed among the clouds. The moaning of the wind among the topmost +branches sounded like the distant roar of the sea. Birds were skipping +merrily among the "tasselled boughs," and curiously eying the young +strangers who had invaded their solitude. + +"O, how I wish I had that gun now!" said Oscar, as a fine plump robin +lit on one of the lower branches of a tree right over his head. + +In repay for this generous wish, Signor Robin executed one of his +choicest songs in his handsomest style, and, without waiting for an +encore from his audience, darted off and was quickly out of sight. But +it is probable the audience thought more of the "good shot" he +presented, than of the sweet strains he poured forth for their +entertainment. + +"There's better game than that in these woods," said Jerry, after the +robin had taken his departure. + +"Is there anything besides birds?" inquired Oscar. + +"Yes," replied Jerry, "there are rabbits, and woodchucks, and weasels, +and skunks, and squirrels; and some folks say there are wild-cats here, +but I don't know about that. Jim Oakley, a fellow who lives about a +mile from our house, comes over here gunning very often; and he says he +saw a real savage-looking creature here, a few weeks ago, that he took +to be a wild-cat. He fired at it, but it got clear of him. He says it +looked a good deal like a cat, only it was larger, and had a little +short tail. I wish he 'd killed it. I should like to know what it +was. I never saw a wild-cat; did you?" + +"No," replied Oscar. + +"But that was n't equal to something a man came across in the woods the +other side of these hills, two or three years ago," continued Jerry. +"What do you suppose it was?" + +"I don't know; was it a moose?" inquired Oscar. + +"No," replied Jerry; "moose come down into this neighborhood, once in +awhile, but that was n't what I was going to tell you about. There is +a road through these woods, a little beyond the hills. It is n't +travelled much, except by the loggers in the fall and spring. A man +was riding along this road, one afternoon in summer, when he suddenly +came across a monstrous black bear. As soon as the bear saw him, he +squat down on his haunches, right in the middle of the road, and began +to show his teeth. The man didn't dare to drive by him, and his horse +was so frightened that it was as much as he could do to hold him in. +He had a loaded revolver with him, but he knew there was n't much hope +of killing the bear with that. So he turned his horse about, and +concluded to go back to the nearest house, and get a gun and somebody +to help him kill the bear. The bear sat still, watching him, as much +as to say, 'If you'll let me alone, I 'll let you alone;' but just as +the man was starting up, he thought he would try his pistol, and so he +blazed away at the bear. Two or three of the shot hit the bear in the +shoulder. They did n't hurt him much, only enough to rouse his dander; +but he sprang up as quick as lightning, and started after the team. +The man whipped up his horse, and the bear 'pulled foot' after him, and +did n't give up the race till he had run about a quarter of a mile. +The man said if he had been afoot, the bear would have beat him at +running, but he could n't keep up with the horse. + +"Well, the man went back three or four miles, and got another man to go +with him in search of the bear. They armed themselves with guns and +hunting-knives; but when they drove back to where the man met the bear, +they could n't find anything of him. They traced his tracks into the +woods, but after awhile they lost them, and as it was getting late, +they gave up the hunt; and nobody hereabouts has seen that bear from +that day to this." + +"Perhaps he's about here now--who knows?" said Oscar. + +"No, I guess he went right back to the place he came from," replied +Jerry. "Somebody would have seen him, if he 'd stayed around here." + +"Where do you suppose he came from?" inquired Oscar. + +"From way back in the woods, fifty miles from here," replied Jerry. +"There had been great fires in the woods that summer, and I suppose he +got burned out, or frightened, and that was the reason he came down +this way." + +"I should like to meet such a customer," said Oscar; "only I should +want to have a good double-barrelled gun with me. I read in a +newspaper, the other day, about a boy up in New Hampshire, who met a +bear and two cubs, all alone in the woods. He had a gun with him, and +killed the old one, and one of the cubs, but the other cub got off. +That was doing pretty well, wasn't it?" + +"'Twas so," said Jerry; "but I guess you would n't have done quite so +well as that." + +"I bet I should have tried, at any rate," said Oscar, who really was +not deficient in courage, though he had hardly practiced hunting enough +to justify him in believing that he could master so savage an animal as +a bear. + +Having rested themselves, the boys resumed their journey, and after ten +minutes' hard work, reached the top of the range of hills. The highest +summit was a bare ledge of rock, and they concluded to climb to the top +of it, for the sake of the view to be obtained. It was called +"Prospect Rock," and was very appropriately named. As the boys stood +upon it, the country for miles around was spread out at their +feet,--houses, and cultivated fields, and forests, and roads, and +narrow streams. A distant mountain was visible in the west, which +Jerry said was about twenty miles off, though it seemed much nearer. +After enjoying the scene a few minutes, they began to descend the hill +on the other side. They kept their eyes open, for game, but they saw +only a few squirrels, and one rabbit, which bounded off, and was out of +sight in a moment. Jerry pointed out to Oscar a woodchuck's hole, near +the foot of the hill. + +"I should like to see a woodchuck," said Oscar; "what do they look +like?" + +"They 're about as big as a rabbit, and are of a brownish color," +replied Jerry. + +"Do you suppose there's one in that hole?" inquired Oscar; "let's see +if we can't scare him out." + +"I don't know whether there is or not," replied Jerry; "but if there +was, we could n't dig him out without shovels. They burrow real deep. +If we had brought a dog with us, how he would dig into that hole!" + +"I wish I had my Tiger here," said Oscar; "it's too bad father would +n't let me bring him with me." + +Oscar thrust his cane into the hole, but did not reach the end of it; +and if the occupant of the tenement was within, he did not think it +worth while to show himself. The boys accordingly renewed their +journey. After they had reached the foot of the hill, they had to +cross a swamp. With its wet and miry bottom, and its dense growth of +vines, bushes, and small trees, this was no easy matter; but they +succeeded in getting through with no damage save wet feet, a few slight +scratches, and a good many mosquito bites. This latter trouble was the +most serious of all. The mosquitoes were large and ferocious. They +bit right through jacket, vest, and all, and Oscar declared that their +sharp stings even penetrated his boots. + +After the boys emerged from the swamp, they came to the road in which +the man met a bear. They followed this road a short distance, till it +brought them to the shore of a large and beautiful pond. Leaving the +highway, they now walked along by the edge of the water, and soon came +to the old hut they were in pursuit of. It was but a few rods from the +pond, and was directly under the brow of a steep and rocky hill. It +had a very old and decayed appearance. The roof had fallen in, the +door had disappeared, and the single window was without sash or glass. +It contained but one apartment, and that was very small, and so choked +up with rubbish that the boys did not try to enter. + +"Well, that must have been a great place for a man to live in," said +Oscar, after he had inspected the premises. "How long has the old +fellow been dead?" + +"I don't know," said Jerry; "it must be fifteen years, for he died +before I was born." + +"I wonder what he lived here for; does anybody know?" inquired Oscar. + +"No, he was a hermit, and that's all anybody knows about him. They say +he used to have a garden, and raised everything he wanted to eat. In +the summer time he used to work a good deal for two or three farmers +that lived over at Cedar Hill, at the further end of the pond. He had +a little skiff, and rowed back and forth in that. He never used to +spend any money, and people say he must have had all of a thousand +dollars, that he had earned, when he died; but nobody knew what became +of it. They suppose he buried it about here somewhere, or hid it in +some rock." + +"A thousand dollars!" said Oscar; "I 'm going to hunt for that; what +will you bet I won't find it?" + +"Pooh!" replied Jerry, "people have searched all round here, and dug +holes, and pulled up the floor of the hut, more than a hundred times; +and I guess there's no danger of your finding the money now." + +"I 'm going to try, at any rate," said Oscar, and he get up from the +stone upon which he was seated. + +"Stop, don't go now," said Jerry; "let's make a fire and get dinner +first--I 'm just about half starved." + +Oscar fell in with this suggestion, and they gathered together a lot of +brush and other dry wood, and soon had a good fire kindled against a +large stone, which happened to be hollowed out something like a +fireplace. Among the provisions they had brought with them were half a +dozen potatoes, which they buried in the embers after the fire had got +well under way. While these were baking, they employed themselves in +gathering wood and watching the fire. They also found some slices of +cheese in their basket, which they toasted by holding it before the +fire upon the point of a sharp stick. When their preparations for +dinner were about completed, Oscar inquired: + +"Where shall we find some water to drink? Is there a spring about +here?" + +"Water, why, there's plenty of it," replied Jerry pointing to the pond. + +"What! you don't mean to drink pond water, do you?" said Oscar, +somewhat surprised. + +"Yes I do," replied Jerry; "that's good water--old Staples drank it all +the time he lived here." + +"Well, come to think of it, I suppose it is good," said Oscar; "for our +Cochituate water, in Boston, is nothing but pond water. It seems +queer, though, to dip it right out of the pond; but I suppose it is +just as good as though we drew it from an aqueduct." + +There was a tin dipper in the basket, and Oscar took it, and went down +to the pond, to try the water. He found it clear, and agreeable to the +taste, though not very cold. Filling the dipper, he returned to the +fire, where Jerry now had the dinner in readiness. They found a large +flat stone, which answered for a table, and spreading their provisions +upon it, they threw themselves upon the grass, and began to eat. The +potatoes were nicely roasted, and, indeed, all the articles that helped +to form their rural repast, tasted uncommonly well. Even the pond +water, Oscar confessed, would have been equal to the Cochituate, if +they had only had a little ice to put in it. + +[Illustration: The Dinner in the Woods.] + +After dinner, Oscar commenced his search for the hidden treasures, and +Jerry, impelled by sympathy, joined in the hunt, though with no very +sanguine expectations of finding the hermit's gold. They examined the +hut, and poked over the rubbish, within and about it. They walked over +the ground, around the cabin, turning over stones, looking after holes +in the trunks of trees, and peering curiously into every crack and +crevice they could find. They then climbed up the rocks behind the +hut, and patiently continued their search, talking earnestly, the +meanwhile, about what they should do with the money, if they found it. +Oscar said if he found the money, he should buy the best horse he could +find. He should not go to school any more, but should spend his time +in riding, and going to places of amusement. If his father did not +like it, he should leave home, and board at a hotel. Jerry, on the +other hand, wanted to see the world. If _he_ found the money, he was +going to travel all over the country. After visiting the great +Atlantic cities, he should go to California, and stop a few months, +just long enough to dig a few thousand dollars out of the mines--and +then he should push on to China, and India, and Europe, and come home +in one of the Collins steamers. It was finally agreed, however, that +if either of them found the treasure, it should be equally divided +between them, and with this friendly understanding, they renewed their +search, with fresh zeal. + +"It's real hot; what do you say about going into water?" inquired +Oscar, after they had ransacked the neighborhood pretty thoroughly, and +worked themselves into a perspiration. + +"I 'll go in if you will," said Jerry. "Father did n't tell us not to +go in to-day--I was afraid he would; but he did n't say anything about +it." + +"He need n't know it, if we do go in," suggested Oscar, who knew very +well that his uncle would not approve of his bathing so early in the +season, and so soon after his sickness. + +"No, he won't know anything about it," added Jerry; "and I don't +believe it can do us any hurt, for it is as warm as it is in the middle +of summer. I 've been into water many a time, when it was colder than +it is now." + +They did not debate the question long, but throwing off their clothes, +they soon plunged into the clear lake. The water did not feel quite so +warm to their bodies, as it tasted when they washed down their dinner +with it. Still, it was not very cold; and as the place was quite +convenient for bathing, having a hard, gravelly bottom, with a gradual +slope, they enjoyed their dip in the water as well as they _could_ +enjoy a forbidden gratification. + +After they had dressed themselves, they sat a little while with their +caps off, that the warm sun might dry their hair, and thus remove all +evidence of their stolen pleasure. This accomplished, they concluded, +from the position of the sun, that it was time to start for home; and +taking their basket and canes, they commenced their homeward march. +They met with no incident of any moment in returning, except that they +got off their course at one time; but Jerry, who was quite at home in +the woods, soon found where he was, and set himself right again. The +last two miles of their jaunt were the hardest of all, especially to +Oscar, who was more troubled with sore feet and stiff legs than Jerry. +They were both, however, as tired and hungry as need be, when they got +home. + +No questions were asked about their going into water. This was +fortunate, for it probably saved them from the additional guilt of +falsehood. They experienced no punishment for their disobedience, +except the consciousness that they had committed a wrong act. To some +boys, that alone would have been no slight punishment; but I fear this +was not the case with Oscar and Jerry. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +CLINTON. + +"Come, Jerry, let's go over to Clinton's this forenoon," said Oscar, +the morning after their excursion to the hermit's hut. + +"Agreed," replied Jerry, "we 'll start right away as soon as I can find +my cap. Let me see---where did I leave it, I wonder?" + +"Jerry," said Mrs. Preston, who overheard this conversation, "bring me +in an armfull of wood before you go." + +"I 'll get the wood while you 're looking for your cap," said Oscar, +and he started for the wood-house. + +Oscar almost repented of his offer when he discover ed that there was +no wood split. However, he took the axe and split a few logs, and +carried them into the kitchen. Jerry had not yet found his cap, though +he had searched all over the house for it. He began to suspect some +one had played a trick upon him by hiding his cap, and when Emily +laughed at his impatience, he concluded she was the guilty one. In +vain she protested that she had not seen the missing cap, and did not +know where it was. He searched every part of the girls' chamber, and +then, in his vexation, he pulled Emily's bonnet from off her head, and +tossed it out of the window into an apple-tree, in the branches of +which it lodged. + +It was now Emily's turn to fly into a pet, and she availed herself of +the opportunity. Running to her mother, she reported what Jerry had +done, setting off his foolish conduct in the worst possible light. +Jerry soon made his appearance in the kitchen, and retorted upon his +sister by charging her with having hid his cap. Mrs. Preston tried to +settle the difficulty by directing Jerry to get Emily's bonnet out of +the tree, and ordering Emily to tell Jerry where his cap was, if she +knew; but Emily protested she knew nothing about the cap, and her +brother did not seem inclined to obey his portion of the decree, while +his sister failed to comply with hers. The quarrel was thus becoming +more and more complicated, when Oscar suddenly entered the room with +the lost cap in his hand. + +"Here's your cap, Jerry," he said; "I found it just where you left it +last night, out in the barn. Don't you remember, you threw it at the +cat to scare her?" + +"Yes, so I did, and I forgot to pick it up again," said Jerry. + +"There, do you believe me now?" said Emily, with an air of triumph. + +Jerry did not stop to reply; but, going into the garden, he climbed the +apple-tree, and tossed the bonnet down to Emily. + +"Now I 'm ready to start, just as soon as I 've had a drink of +buttermilk," said Jerry to Oscar; "come into the buttery and get some, +won't you?" + +There was only one bowl-full of buttermilk left from the morning's +churning, but Mrs. Preston told the boys they might have that. Jerry +proposed that they should "go snacks," and gave the bowl to Oscar that +he might drink his share first. The latter took one mouthful, but +quickly spit it out, and puckered his face into all sorts of shapes. + +"Ugh!" he exclaimed, "you don't call that sour stuff good, do you?" and +he handed the bowl back to Jerry, with a look that would have soured +the buttermilk, if it had not already undergone that process. + +As soon as Jerry could get over laughing at his cousin's grimaces, he +swallowed the contents of the bowl, and then smacking his lips, said: + +"There, don't you think I like it? You just drink it a few times, and +then see if you don't like it, too. I could drink a quart of it now if +I had it." + +"You may have it, for all me; I don't want any more of it," replied +Oscar. + +"Jerry, have the hens been attended to?" inquired Mrs. Preston, as the +boys were about starting from home. + +"I don't know--I have n't fed them," replied Jerry. + +"You ought to know whether they are seen to or not; it's your business +to take care of them," said his mother. "Don't you go off this morning +till you have fed them. You ought to have done it an hour ago." + +The care of the fowls had been committed to Jerry, but he did not feel +much interest in them, and needed to be reminded of his duty pretty +often. His negligence had been more marked than ever since Oscar's +arrival, and more than once the hens had been without food and water +nearly a whole day because he forgot to attend to them. Jerry now went +back, in obedience to his mother, and gave the fowls their usual +allowance of corn, and a vessel of fresh water. He also looked into +the nests to see if there were any new-laid eggs; and he was not a +little surprised to find in one of them a small billet, neatly folded +up, and addressed, "_To Master Jerry_." He looked at it a moment, and +tried to imagine what it could be; then he opened it, and read the +following, which was neatly written with a pencil: + + +"THE HENROOST, June 12th. + +"MASTER JERRY:" + +"I have determined to write you a few words in behalf of my dear +suffering family. The sun is scorching hot, and yet we have not got a +drop of water to save us from parching up. My poor biddies have been +walking back and forth all day, panting for water, and calling for it +as plainly as they could speak; but all in vain. We have received our +food at very irregular times, too, and sometimes we have had to keep +fast nearly all day. If I were the only sufferer, I would say nothing +about it; but I cannot bear to see my poor flock dying by inches in +this way. Do take pity on us, and see that we have plenty of corn and +water hereafter. Some of my family, who pride themselves on being good +layers, complain that since you have kept us shut up in such narrow +quarters they cannot find anything to make their egg-shells of. Now, +if you would give us some old burnt bones, pounded up fine, or a little +lime, once in awhile, I do not think you would lose anything by it. +And as you will not let us go out to scratch for ourselves, what is the +reason that you cannot dig us a few worms occasionally? It would be a +great treat to us. I hope you will heed my suggestions. If you do +not, I can assure you of two things: you won't have many eggs this +summer; and fat chickens will be a scarce article in this neighborhood +next Thanksgiving time. But Mrs. Yellowneck has just laid an egg, and +I must help her cackle over it; so I will write nothing more at +present, but sign myself + +"Your faithful, but afflicted, + +"SHANGHAE ROOSTER." + + +Before Jerry had finished reading this mysterious letter, Oscar, who +wondered at his long absence, went to see what the matter was, and +found his cousin deeply absorbed in the document. After Jerry had read +it, he handed it to Oscar, telling him where he found it. + +"Well, that is queer," said Oscar, after he had read it. "Who do you +suppose wrote it?" + +"I know where it came from well enough," said Jerry; "keep dark--don't +say anything about it," he added, as he put the letter in his pocket. +Then stepping to the kitchen-window, he inquired, "Mother, was Clinton +over here yesterday?" + +"I believe he was," replied Mrs. Preston. + +"That accounts for it," said Jerry to Oscar; "that letter sounds just +like Clinton. I knew he wrote it just as soon as I saw it." + +"But can he write as well as that?" inquired Oscar. + +"Yes, he 's a very good writer," replied Jerry. "He ought to be, for +he has to get a lesson every day, just as though he went to school, and +recite to his mother in the evening. I wish I knew as much as he does, +but I should n't want to study so hard." + +They had now started on their way to Clinton's. The Shanghae letter +continued to be the topic of remark for some time. It was finally +concluded that they should say nothing to Clinton about it. To tell +the truth, Jerry felt a little mortified at the deserved rebuke he had +received, and he thought the easiest way to get over it would be, to +pretend that the letter had never reached its destination. + +Clinton Davenport, the suspected author of this letter, lived in the +nearest house to Mr. Preston's. The house is marked 1, on the map of +Brookdale. He was three or four months younger than Jerry, and, like +him, was an only son. They had been intimate playmates from early +childhood, though their tastes and dispositions were very different. +Clinton was an industrious boy. He liked to work, and took an interest +in all his father's plans and labors. He was an ingenious boy, too; +and, in addition to his other commendable traits, he was a good scholar. + +Oscar had seen Clinton once or twice, at Jerry's house, but this was +his first visit to him. They soon came in the sight of the house. It +was a neat, but plain cottage, situated near the foot of a hill. There +were several noble oaks around it, and fruit trees in the rear. +Luxuriant vines were trained around and over the front door. A large +and substantial barn stood a little one side, and back from the road, +with its great doors swung open. On a tall pole, behind the house, +there was a complete miniature of the cottage, which appeared to be +occupied by a family of birds, who were constantly flying back and +forth. This pretty birdhouse Clinton had made with his own hands the +previous winter. + +When Oscar and Jerry reached the house, they saw Clinton doing +something in the orchard, behind the buildings, and walked along +towards him. They found him employed in destroying caterpillars' +nests, in the apple-trees. He had a light ladder, with which he +ascended the trees; and having his hands protected by a pair of old +gloves, he swept down the nests, and destroyed the young caterpillars +by the hundred. + +"This is n't very pleasant work," said Clinton, "but it has got to be +done. I've been all over the orchard this morning, and this is the +last tree I 've got to examine. I shall be done in a few minutes, and +then I 'll walk around with you." + +"I should like to know where all these caterpillars come from," said +Oscar; "do they come up from the ground?" + +"No," replied Clinton. "A miller lays the eggs, the summer before, on +a branch of the tree, and there they stay till about the first of June; +then they hatch out, and build their nest. The nests look something +like tents, don't you see they do?" + +"Yes, so they do," said Oscar. + +"That's the reason they are called tent-caterpillars. There are three +or four hundred of them in every nest. In about a month from now, they +would all turn into millers, if nobody disturbed them, and lay millions +of eggs for next year's crop." + +"That 's curious--I 've learnt something new by coming here," said +Oscar. + +"There, I believe that's all," said Clinton, as he cast his eye over +the tree; "now come and see my turkeys." + +Jerry slyly winked at Oscar, and both thought of the Shanghae rooster's +letter; but they said nothing, and followed Clinton to a tree near the +barn, where there was a large, motherly hen, surrounded by her happy +brood. They were young turkeys, but it was all the same to the poor +simple hen. She had set four weeks upon the eggs from which they were +hatched, and no wonder she honestly believed they were her own +children. To confess the truth, they did look so much like chickens, +that a city boy like Oscar would hardly have suspected they were +turkeys, if he had not been told that they were. They were black, and +of about the size of chickens of their age. They had also the sharp, +piping cry of genuine chickens. But their necks were a little longer +than usual, and that was almost the only badge of their turkeyhood. +The hen was confined to the tree by a string, to prevent her roving +off. A barrel turned upon its side, served them for a house at night. + +There was another hen, confined under a tree near by, which was the +proud mother of a large brood of chickens. There were about +twenty-five of them, but though they now constituted one brood, they +were hatched by two hens. Clinton said he usually managed to set two +hens together, so that one of them might bring up all the chickens, +thereby saving some trouble for himself, as well as one hen's time, +which was of some value to him. Hens do not seem to have much +knowledge of arithmetic, and biddy was apparently unconscious of any +difference between twelve and five-and-twenty. + +A loud and prolonged "Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o" now attracted Oscar to +the hen-yard near by, behind the barn, where the rest of Clinton's +poultry were confined. It was a large enclosure, connected with a +shed, in which the fowls roosted and laid their eggs. Its occupants, +and indeed all the poultry on the place were the exclusive property of +Clinton, and he took the entire management of them in his own hands. +He raised the corn they consumed on a patch of ground his father gave +him for the purpose. He sold his eggs, chickens, and turkeys to whom +he pleased, and kept a regular account in a book of all his business +transactions. Of course, all the money he made was his own, and he +told Oscar he had nearly seventy-five dollars in the bank, which he had +earned in this way. + +"I don't see how you do it," said Jerry; "I could n't make anything +that way if I should try. I don't believe our hens more than pay their +way, if they do that." + +"If you should manage as I do, I guess you would make something," +replied Clinton. + +"No, it isn't my luck," said Jerry; "if I worked ever so hard, I should +n't be any better off for it." + +"I don't believe that," said Clinton; "there 's no luck about it. Any +boy could make out just as well as I have done, if he took the same +trouble. You try it, now, and see." + +"No, I shan't try, for I know just as well as I want to, how it would +turn out," replied Jerry. + +"How can you know if you never tried it?" inquired Clinton. + +Jerry did not answer this question, and perhaps he could not. He +preferred to comfort himself with the foolish plea of the lazy, that he +was not one of "the lucky ones," and it was useless for him to think of +succeeding in anything of that kind. + +Clinton did not make the most distant allusion to the Shanghae +Rooster's letter, although Jerry felt sure that he knew all about it. +The latter also avoided all reference to it. Oscar could hardly keep +from introducing the matter, but his cousin's injunction to "keep dark" +prevailed, and he was able to restrain his impatient tongue. + +The boys now took a look at the piggery, where they found several fat, +dignified grunters, together with a family of little squealers, who +seemed quite too clean and delicate to occupy such an enclosure. They +then went all over the great barn, which happened to be tenantless, the +cows being at pasture and the oxen and horse off at work. Oscar's +attention was attracted to a scrap cut from a newspaper, which was +pasted upon one of the posts of the horse's stall. It read as follows: + + "THE HORSE'S PRAYER. + + "Up hill, spare thou me; + Down hill, take care of thee; + On level ground, spare me not, + Nor give me water when I 'm hot." + + +Clinton said he found these lines in a newspaper about the time he +began to drive alone, and he stuck them up upon the stall that he might +not forget them. + +"Hallo, who is this?" inquired Oscar, as a little curly-haired girl of +six years came tripping into the barn. + +The little girl to whom the inquiry was addressed turned a shy and +roguish look towards the strange boy, and then edged along to Clinton, +and nestled her little hand in his. + +"Can't you tell him who you are?" inquired Clinton. "He came all the +way from Boston, where cousin Ettie and cousin Willie live. He 's +Jerry's cousin, and little Mary Preston's cousin. Now you'll tell him +what your name is, won't you?" + +"Annie Davenport--that's my name," she replied, in her artless, winning +way. + +"Then you're Clinton's sister, are you?" inquired Oscar. + +"Yes, and he 's my brother," she quickly added, with a proud look that +greatly amused the boys. + +"Did you say you have a cousin Willie in Boston, Clinton?" continued +Oscar. + +"Yes, Willie Davenport," replied Clinton. + +"I know him--he's about your size, is n't he? and his father is a +lawyer?" + +"Yes, that's him--why, I want to know if you know him?" + +"O yes; he goes to our school. The boys have nicknamed him Whistler, +because he whistles so much; but he 's a real clever fellow, for all +that. My brother Ralph is quite intimate with him. It's strange that +I never knew before that he had relations down here," added Oscar. + +"Do you know his sister, Ettie?" inquired Clinton. + +"No, I never saw her," replied Oscar. + +"Come into the house with me,--I must tell mother we 've heard from +Boston," said Clinton. + +They all entered the house, and Mrs. Davenport was soon informed of the +pleasant discovery they had made, and had many questions to ask +concerning her Boston friends. Oscar seemed to become at once an old +acquaintance. The fact that he was a schoolmate of Willie gave him a +direct passport to the good graces of all the family. When Oscar +called to mind his peculiar relations towards Willie, this unlooked-for +friendship was not particularly agreeable to him; for he was not, and +never had been, on very friendly terms with Clinton's cousin. This, +however, was more than he dared say to Clinton, and so he concealed his +dislike of Willie as well as he could. + +After sitting in the house a little while, Clinton invited Oscar and +Jerry into the "shop," which was a room back of the kitchen, where Mr. +Davenport kept a variety of carpenter's tools. Here, in cold and +stormy weather, Clinton's father mended his broken tools and +implements, and performed such other jobs as were required. Clinton, +too, spent many odd moments at the work-bench, and patient practice had +made him quite a neat and skilful workman. He showed the boys several +boxes, a pine table, and a cricket, made entirely by his own hands, +which would have done no discredit to a regular carpenter. + +After remaining an hour or two with Clinton, Oscar and Jerry started +for home, well pleased with their visit. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE LETTER. + +"Oscar, you have n't written home since you came down here, have you?" +inquired Mr. Preston one morning at the breakfast table. + +"No, sir," replied Oscar. + +"Well, you ought to write," added Mr. Preston; "your mother told you +to, and I suppose she has been looking for a letter every day for a +week or more. It's over a fortnight since you left home, and your +folks will feel anxious about you, if they don't hear from you soon. +You 'd better write a letter to them this morning, before you do +anything else, and then it will be out of the way. I shall either go +or send over to the post-office to-day, and the letter will start for +Boston to-morrow morning, and get there the next day." + +"O dear, I hate to write," said Oscar. "Why can't you write to mother, +aunt, and tell her how I am?" + +"No, no," said Mr. Preston, "that won't do. You promised your mother +that you would write yourself, and she 'll expect to hear from you, and +not from somebody else. Your aunt can write, if she chooses, but you +must write too. I 'll give you a pen and some paper and ink after +breakfast, and you can write just a much as you please." + +"I guess it won't be much--I don't know how to write a letter," replied +Oscar. + +"A boy of your age not know how to write a letter--and been all your +lifetime to such grand schools as they have in Boston, too! I don't +believe that," said Mr. Preston, shaking his head. + +"I shall have to go and see the Shanghae Rooster," said Oscar, looking +at Jerry very knowingly. + +Jerry laughed at this allusion, but the others did not appear to +understand its meaning. It was evident that they were innocent of all +knowledge of the mysterious letter; and as Jerry wished them to remain +so, he adroitly turned the remark by replying: + +"No you won't--father has got plenty of steel pens." + +After breakfast, Mr. Preston told Oscar to follow him. They went up +stairs, and Mr. P. took a key from his pocket, and unlocked the door of +what was known by the name of "the private room." It was a very small +apartment, and was originally designed for a closet or store-room; but +Mr. Preston now used it as a sort of office. Here he kept his business +papers, and here he did what little writing he had to do. There was +one window in the room, which looked out upon the garden in the rear of +the house. The furniture consisted of a chair, a small portable desk, +placed upon a table, an old map of the State of Maine, a dictionary, +almanac, and several other odd volumes and pamphlets. + +"There," said Mr. Preston, "you may sit right down to my desk, and +write as long as you please, if you won't disturb my papers. There are +paper, ink, pens, and wafers--you can use what you want. When you get +done, lock the door, and give the key to your aunt." + +Oscar found there was no backing out from a letter this time; so he sat +down, and tried to make up his mind to face the dreaded duty. He heard +his uncle tell the children not to interrupt him, till he had finished +his letter; and when Mr. Preston and his man James went off to work, +Jerry accompanied them. Oscar was thus left to himself. After +thinking about the matter a few moments, he dipped his pen in the +ink-stand, and, having consulted the almanac, wrote the proper date for +the letter, together with the address, "Dear Mother." Here he came +suddenly to a stand. He was at a loss how to commence. He sat +uneasily in his chair, now nibbling the end of the pen-holder, and now +running his fingers slowly through his hair, as if to coax out the +thoughts he wished to express. + +At length he got started, and wrote several lines without stopping. +Now he thought he should go ahead without further trouble; but he soon +found himself again brought to a dead halt. He began to scribble and +draw rude figures upon a piece of waste paper, hoping the next +sentence, in continuance of his letter, would soon pop into his head; +but instead of anything popping in, his ideas began to pop out, so that +he almost forgot the letter, amid the unmeaning flourishes his pen was +making. Then, suddenly thinking of the scarcely-commenced task before +him, he read and re-read the few lines he had written, but could not +determine what to say next. Lifting up the lid of the desk, he found a +variety of bills, receipts, accounts and letters scattered about. +Disregarding the injunction of his uncle, and in violation of one of +the plainest rules of good breeding, he concluded to open one of the +letters, and see if he could not gain some hint from it, to aid him in +completing his own. The letter he opened proved to be a short business +message, and it was written in such a difficult hand, that he could not +read half the words. He then looked into several other letters, but +none of them afforded him any aid. + +After idling away half an hour in this manner, he resumed his letter, +and began to make some progress upon it, when the lively chirping and +twittering of a party of birds in an apple-tree near the window, +attracted his attention. He laid down his pen, and watched their +movements awhile. They were swallows; and from their actions, Oscar +soon discovered that the old birds were teaching their little ones how +to fly. There were several nests of these swallows, under the rafters +of Mr. Preston's barn; and as they had recently had accessions to their +families, Oscar concluded this must be the first appearance of the +new-comers in public. The old birds fluttered back and forth, +twittering and talking to the young ones all the while, and trying to +entice them to commit themselves again to their wings. The little +fearful things looked doubtingly, first one way and then another, as +though they would gladly launch away upon their destined element, if +they were only sure they should not tumble ingloriously to the ground. +The clamor of the old ones increased every moment. They called and +coaxed more earnestly, and fluttered more impatiently, until at length +the young birds worked up their courage to the requisite point, and +away the whole flock darted, towards the barn. + +Now that the swallows were out of his way, Oscar returned to his letter +once more. Had he learned a lesson of self-confidence from the example +of the little swallows, the few minutes he spent in watching their +movements would have been well employed. But instead of his confidence +increasing, he was now almost sick of the sight of the letter, and +began to doubt whether he should ever finish it. While he was +hesitating whether he had better tear it up, or try once more to go on +with it, a sweet childish voice from the garden engaged his attention. +He looked from the window, and saw little Mary sitting down upon the +grass, in a shady spot, with a large book open before her. She was +looking at the engravings in the volume, and was talking very earnestly +to herself, and to the figures in the pictures. + +"There is Emily," she was saying, "and there is father with a shovel; +and this one is me, and that is Jerry, and that's Oscar, carrying a +basket. I guess they 're going to dig potatoes. O, what lots of +houses over the other side of the pond; and there 's one, two, three, +five, ten, eight meeting-houses, too. It must be Boston, I guess, +there are so many houses there. And there's a great boat coming--O +what a smoke it makes!--and it's got wheels, too. Now we'll get right +into it, and go and see Uncle Henry and all the folks. Stop, stop, you +boat! Now that's too bad--it goes by, and we can't go to Boston." + +[Illustration: Mary and the Picture-Book.] + +Thus little Mary continued to talk to the pictures and to herself, +unconscious that any one was listening to her. She was a pretty child, +and, all unknown to herself, she made almost as attractive a picture as +any in her book, with her fair face, her flowing hair, and her clean +dress, set off by the green grass and climbing vines around her. Oscar +sat listening to her childish prattle for some time, when the striking +of the kitchen clock reminded him that he had been seated at the desk +an hour, and had not yet written a dozen lines. He was about to tear +up the sheet of paper over which he had sat (but not labored) so long, +and give up the attempt. Then he thought of his promise to write, and +how ashamed he should feel to have his uncle's folks know that he had +tried a whole hour, and could not write a letter to his own mother. He +finally determined to make one more attempt. + +Finding that the sound of Mary's voice disturbed him, Oscar now shut +down the window, and thus cut off all communication with the outer +world, except by the eye. He soon got under way again with his letter, +and, to his own surprise, he went along quite easily and with +considerable rapidity. The reason of this was, he was now really in +earnest, and had given his mind wholly to the letter. Before, his +thoughts were flitting from one trifle to another; now they were +directed to the object he wished to accomplish. Before the clock +struck the next hour, the letter was finished, sealed, and directed. +It was quite a respectable sort of a letter, too. When he had got +through, Oscar was himself surprised to find that he could write so +good an epistle. The spelling, punctuation, and penmanship might have +been improved, but in other respects the letter was creditable to him. +I will print it as he intended it should read, and not precisely as he +wrote it: + + +"BROOKDALE, June 15, 185--. + +"DEAR MOTHER: + +"I suppose you are looking for a letter from me, and I meant to have +written before this, but somehow I have neglected it. I got here safe +the next day after I left home. We stopped one night in Portland, and +put up at the ---- Hotel. The next day we rode in the cars all the +forenoon, and in the stage all the afternoon. The stage does not go +within five miles of uncle's, but Jerry went over with a horse and +wagon to get us. I like Brookdale first-rate. It is a real +countryfied place, but I like it all the better for that. The nearest +house to uncle's is half a mile off; and, by the way, tell Ralph that a +cousin of Whistler's lives there. His name is Clinton Davenport. I +have got acquainted with him, and like him very much. I like Jerry, +too. We have capital times together. All the boys here are rather +'green,' as we say in Boston; and you would laugh at the ideas they +have of city things; but I suppose they think I am green about country +things, and so we are square. I have lots of rides, and good long +walks, too. A few days ago, Jerry and I walked four or five miles +through the woods and pastures, to an old hut where a hermit used to +live. They say he was a miser, and buried his money there, and people +have dug for it, but nobody has found it. We carried our provisions, +and made a fire, and ate dinner there. There is a fine pond close by, +where we got our water to drink. + +"There are lots of birds here. We are going to set some snares in the +woods, and catch some. There are some swallows' nests in uncle's barn, +just over the door. You can look right up into them, and see the +birds. They are quite tame. They are just making their young ones +learn how to fly. It is real amusing to see them. + +"Uncle has quite a large farm. I forget how many acres he told me +there was, but it is a good many. They have cows, and pigs, and hens, +and live in real country style. I have learned how to make butter, but +I have not learned to like buttermilk yet. I can't bear it, but all +the other folks think it is a great treat. The schools don't keep here +but three months in the winter, so Jerry and I are together about all +the time. We sleep together, too. I almost forgot to tell you that I +have got quite strong and hearty again. My cough is gone, and aunt +says I look a good deal better than I did when I came here. I want to +hear from home, but I hope you won't send for me to go back just yet. +But I am tired of writing, and must close up my letter. Excuse errors +and bad writing. Give my love to all the family, including Tiger. + +"Your affectionate son, + +"OSCAR." + + +Oscar felt quite relieved when his letter was ready for the +post-office. Having locked up the little room, he carried the key to +his aunt. + +"Have you written your letter?" inquired Mrs. Preston. + +"Yes, ma'am," replied Oscar. + +"Where is it? You 're going to let me read it, aint you?" inquired +Emily. + +"There it is," said Oscar, taking the letter from his jacket pocket; +"but I guess you won't read it, miss." + +"Yes, do let me read it," persisted Emily, who really had an undue +proportion of inquisitiveness in her nature. + +"No, I can't; it's sealed up," replied Oscar. + +"Then tell me what you wrote, won't you?" continued Emily. + +"Why, you silly child, what business is it to you what he wrote?" said +her mother. "Don't ask any more such foolish questions; Oscar will +think you have n't got common sense if you do." + +"Did you write anything about me?" continued Emily, in a lower tone. + +"Did you hear me, Emily?" inquired Mrs. Preston, in a sharper tone. + +"O no, I did n't write much," said Oscar, in reply to Emily; "there's +nothing in the letter that you would care about seeing." + +"I did n't know you were going to seal up the letter so soon. I wanted +to send a message to Alice and Ella," continued Emily. + +"You are too late now," replied Oscar; "but I 'll give you a chance +next time. What message do you want to send?" + +"You must n't be so inquisitive," said Emily, with a laugh; "just as +though I were going to tell you, when you would n't let me read the +letter!" + +"Well, I can tell you one thing,--I don't want to know," replied Oscar. +"Aunt Eliza, do you know where Jerry is?" + +"He has gone with his father down to the meadow lot," replied Mrs. +Preston. "I guess they will be back before a great while." + +Oscar set out for the "meadow lot," which was a quarter of a mile from +the house, on the other side of the river. He had not gone far, +however, when he met Mr. Preston and Jerry returning. + +"I 've written my letter, uncle, and it's all ready to go to the +post-office," said Oscar; "can't Jerry and I carry it over?" + +"I 'll see about that this afternoon," said Mr. Preston; "I 've got +something else for Jerry to do now." + +"I 'm going over to the old wood-lot to get a load of mulching," said +Jerry to Oscar; "and you can go too, if you want to." + +"Mulching--what is that?" inquired Oscar. + +"It's stuff that they put around young trees, to keep the roots from +drying up in summer," replied Jerry. "You know all those small apple +and pear trees back of the barn? well, it's to put around them." + +Having reached the house, the boys ate some luncheon, and then +proceeded to tackle Billy into the hay-cart. After Mr. Preston had +given Jerry sundry cautions and directions, which the latter seemed to +think quite unnecessary, the boys hopped into the cart, and drove off +towards the woods. Mr. Preston owned several tracts of woodland in +Brookdale. The lot to which the boys were going, was called the "old" +one, because the wood had all been cut off once, and it was now covered +with a young growth, not large enough for firewood. It was but a short +distance from the house, and the boys soon reached the spot, and +commenced operations. They were each provided with large jack-knives, +and with these they proceeded to lop off the young and tender ends of +the birches, which trees were quite abundant in that spot; for birches +are very apt to spring up after a pine forest has been cleared away. +Many of the trees were yet so small, that the boys did not have to +climb up to reach the branches. + +Though all this was really work, it seemed so much like play to Jerry +and Oscar, that they actually _forgot to be lazy_. The consequence +was, the job was done before they thought of it. Gathering up the +heaps of small twigs scattered around them, they threw them into the +cart, and found they had quite a respectable load; respectable in bulk +at least, though not a very heavy burden for Billy. Taking their seats +upon the top of the mulching, which was almost as soft as a load of +hay, they drove back to the barn, and alighted. Mr. Preston now +appeared, and led the horse into the orchard, where, with the aid of +the boys, he scattered the birch twigs around the young trees, so as to +protect their roots from the fierce heat of the sun. There was not +enough for all the trees, but he told them they need not get any more +at that time. + +After dinner, Mr. Preston said he should have to go over to the +Cross-Roads himself, as he wanted to see a man who lived there; but he +told Oscar he might go with him, if he wished. Oscar accepted the +invitation, and they were soon on their way, leaving Jerry not a little +disappointed that he could not go with them. Oscar handed his letter +to the postmaster, who marked it with the stamp of the office, and +deposited it in the mail-bag, Mr. Preston stopped to purchase a few +articles in the shop where the post-office was kept. When he was ready +to start, he inquired: + +"Have you mailed your letter, and paid your postage, Oscar?" + +"I 've mailed it, but I did n't pay the postage," replied Oscar. + +"That was n't right," said his uncle; "when you mail a letter to a +friend, you should always pay the postage. If you pay it now, in +advance, it will be only three cents; but if the postage is not paid +till the letter is delivered, it will be five cents." + +"I did n't think of that," said Oscar; "I wonder if it is too late to +pay it now? I 'll go and see." + +On making known his request, the postmaster drew forth the letter from +the bag, and imprinted another stamp upon it. Oscar paid the three +cents, and departed, with his uncle. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE RECALL. + +Oscar was bent upon going a-gunning. He had allowed his mind to dwell +upon the idea, until it seemed to him as though he could no longer +resist the impulse to play the sportsman, without a sacrifice of his +happiness. His uncle, it is true, had tried to dissuade him from it, +and had positively refused to lend him his gun. But there were other +guns in Brookdale, and everybody was not so particular as Mr. Preston +about trusting boys with fire-arms. Why could n't he borrow a gun of +somebody else? So he asked himself; and by-and-bye he put the same +question to Jerry. Jerry heartily entered into the proposal. He +thought Jim Oakley would lend him a gun. At any rate, he was not +afraid to ask him. Jim was a famous gunner, in that region. He had +several fowling-pieces; and if he would not lend them his best rifle, +it was not likely that he would refuse them one of his old guns. So +Jerry reasoned, and Oscar fully agreed with him. They went to see Jim, +that very afternoon, and by dint of teasing, they got the gun, together +with a small quantity of powder and shot. Thus armed, they set out for +the woods, in quest of game. + +They had been in the woods but a short time, and had not yet shot +anything, though they had fired several charges, when a dispute arose +between them about the gun. Jerry claimed a right to it half the time, +on the ground that he had borrowed it. Oscar was willing that he +should use the gun occasionally, but he resisted his claim to it half +the time. He contended that the gun was loaned to him, and besides, he +had agreed to pay the owner for all the ammunition they used. The +dispute waxed warmer and warmer. Oscar was obstinate, and Jerry grew +sulky. It was the first serious difficulty that had arisen between +them. Neither of them, as yet, knew the other's temper, but now they +were in a fair way of finding each other out. It was the clashing of +two strong wills. Oscar soon saw that their sport was at an end for +that day, and throwing down the gun and powder flask upon the grass, he +said, in an angry tone: + +"There, take the old thing, and do what you please with it; and when +you carry it back, see that you pay for the powder, for I won't." + +So saying, he turned upon his heel and walked off. He had not gone far +when Jerry, who had picked up the gun, called out: + +"Here! you 've broken the trigger, throwing it down so. You may carry +it back yourself now, I won't." + +"I shan't carry it back," replied Oscar; "you say he lent it to you, +and you may take care of it now." + +Oscar went back to his uncle's, leaving Jerry and the gun to keep each +other company. Not feeling in a very pleasant mood, Oscar did not go +into the house, but loitered around the barn, avoiding the family as +much as he could. Pretty soon he saw Clinton driving up, and he +stepped inside of the barn, as he did not care about speaking with him. +Clinton stopped however, when opposite to the barn, and called to him. + +"What would you give for a letter from home?" said Clinton, when Oscar +made his appearance. + +"I don't know--why, have you got one for me?" inquired Oscar, with +remarkable coolness. + +"That's for you, I guess," said Clinton, handing him a letter. "I 've +been over to the post-office, and as I happened to see a letter +directed to you, I thought I would take it along with me." + +"That's right, I'm glad you did," said Oscar, taking the letter. "Much +obliged to you for your trouble," he added, as Clinton drove off. + +Oscar now went into the barn, and, seating himself upon a stool, opened +and read his letter. It was from his mother. She acknowledged the +receipt of his letter, and expressed much gratification at hearing that +he was well and enjoying himself. His father, she wrote, thought he +had better return home, and resume his place at school, from which he +had been absent nearly three months. The term would close in about a +month, and he wanted Oscar to be prepared to enter the High School at +that time. Then followed various little messages from the children, +directions about his journey home, &c. In closing, she requested him +to return that week, that he might be ready to go to school the +following Monday. + +Oscar was not very much pleased with the contents of the letter. He +did not expect to be recalled so suddenly. He had hoped that, at any +rate, he should not be sent to school again that term. But, his plans +and hopes were all overturned by this letter. He went into the house, +and told the news to his aunt, who expressed regret that he was to +leave so soon. + +By-and-bye Jerry came home, but he brought the same scowl upon his face +that Oscar left with him up in the woods. Oscar, too, was as "stuffy" +as ever. No words passed between the two, and each seemed bent upon +giving the other a wide berth. At the supper table, something was said +about Oscar's letter, and his going home; but Jerry was too obstinate +to ask any questions, and so he remained in tormenting uncertainty in +regard to the matter. Oscar, too, had some curiosity about the gun, +but he did not intend to "speak first," if he never spoke again to his +cousin. + +During the whole evening, Oscar and Jerry were at the opposite poles of +the little family circle. When Oscar retired for the night, he found +Jerry not only abed, but asleep, or pretending to be. It was a wonder +that both did not tumble out of bed that night; for each slept upon the +extreme edge of the mattress, as far as possible from the other. + +When Oscar awoke in the morning, he found himself alone, Jerry having +quietly arisen and slipped out of the room, without disturbing him. +They did not see each other until they met at the breakfast table. +Here, their sober and quiet demeanor, so unusual with them, soon +attracted notice. + +"See how down in the mouth Jerry is!" said Emily. "He looks as though +he had lost all his friends. And Oscar does n't look much better +either, poor fellow!" + +Both boys changed color, and looked queerly, but they said nothing. + +"Never mind, boys," said Mrs. Preston, "you 've got one day more to +enjoy yourselves together. You 'd better make the most of that, while +it lasts, and not worry about the separation till the time comes." + +"That's good doctrine," said Mr. Preston; "never borrow trouble, for it +comes fast enough any way. Come, cheer up, Oscar, you have n't gone +yet." + +"It's too bad to make me go home so soon--I thought I was going to stay +here a month or two," said Oscar, who was very willing that his unusual +demeanor should be attributed entirely to his summons home. + +"You must ask your father to let you come down and spend your +vacation," said Mr. Preston. "I expect to go up to Boston about that +time, and I guess he will let me bring you home with me." + +"I should like to come," said Oscar, "but I don't believe father will +let me, it's so far." + +"O yes, he will, when he knows what good friends you and Jerry are," +replied Mr. Preston. + +"Jerry 's crying, as true as I 'm alive!" exclaimed Emily, who had been +watching the workings of her brother's face for several moments, and +thought she saw moisture gathering in his eye. + +"No I aint, either!" replied Jerry, in such a prompt and spiteful tone, +and with such a scowl upon his face, that all the others, including +even Oscar, joined in a hearty laugh. + +"I hope you feel good-natured," said his mother; "Oscar's going off +seems to have had a queer effect upon you." + +"I don't care, you 're all picking upon me--it's enough to make anybody +cross," said Jerry, in a surly tone. + +"You're mistaken--nobody has picked upon you," replied his mother. + +"Yes, you have, too," responded Jerry. + +"Jerry! don't let me hear any more of that--not another word," said Mr. +Preston, sternly. + +"Then you 'd better make Emily hold her tongue," said Jerry. + +"Hush! do you hear me?" said Mr. Preston, with considerable excitement. + +Jerry undertook to mutter something more, when his father jumped up, +and, taking him by the collar, led him to the cellar-door, and told him +to go down and stay until he was sent for. Then, shutting the door, +and turning the button, he resumed his seat at the table, and the +family finished their meal in silence. + +Jerry was released from his confinement soon after breakfast; but the +unfortunate affair at the table continued to weigh heavily upon his +mind. Throughout the rest of the day, he kept out of everybody's way, +and said nothing, but looked sour, cross, and wretched. Oscar, too, +felt very unpleasantly. He found it hard work to amuse himself alone. +He was a boy of strong social feelings, and abhorred solitary rambles +and sports. It was a long and dull day, and when he retired to bed at +night, he almost felt glad that it was his last day in Brookdale. + +Soon after he had got into bed, Jerry, who had retired before him, +called out: + +"Oscar!" + +"What?" inquired the other. + +There was a long pause, during which Jerry hitched and twisted about, +as if hesitating how to proceed. He at length inquired: + +"Are you mad with me?" + +"No," replied Oscar, somewhat reluctantly, and in a tone that was +almost equivalent to "yes." + +"I don't want you to go off without making up with me," added Jerry; +and as he spoke, his voice trembled, and had it been light enough, +Oscar might have detected something like moisture in those very eyes +that had flashed in anger at Emily in the morning, for reporting the +same thing of them. + +"I 'm ready to make up with you," replied Oscar, turning over toward +Jerry. + +Having thus broken the ice, the constraint and reserve that had existed +between them since the previous day, gradually melted away, and they +were once more on sociable terms, although their intercourse was not +quite so free and unembarrassed as it was before their quarrel. In +fact, they did not properly heal up the difficulty between them, +inasmuch as neither made any confession or apology--a duty that both +should have performed, as they were about equally guilty. Oscar's +first inquiries were concerning the gun. Jerry told him that he +carried it home, and that the owner was quite angry, when he saw the +damage it had sustained, but said nothing about making the boys pay for +it. + +The next morning the family arose at an earlier hour than usual, as +Oscar had got to be on his way soon after sunrise. It was decided that +Jerry should drive him over to the Cross-Roads. Accordingly, after a +hasty breakfast, he bade them all good-bye, one by one, and taking a +seat in the wagon with Jerry, started for home. It was delightful, +riding while the birds were yet singing their morning songs, and the +grass was spangled with dew, and the cool air had not felt the hot +breath of the sun; but the separation that was about to take place, and +the unpleasant recollection of their recent quarrel, lessened their +enjoyment of the ride very much. They reached the Cross-Roads nearly +half an hour before the stage-coach came along. At length it drove up +to the post-office, and Oscar, mounting to the top, took a seat behind +the driver. The mail-bag was handed to the driver, and the coach +started again on its way, Oscar bowing his farewell to Jerry, as they +drove off. + +[Illustration: The Stage Coach.] + +Nothing of special interest occurred the forenoon's ride. The coach +reached its destination about eleven o'clock and Oscar had barely time +enough to brush the dust from his clothing, and to obtain a drink of +cold water, when the signal was given for the cars to start, and he +took his seat in the train. His thoughtful aunt had placed a liberal +supply of eatables in the top of his valise, and to that he now had +recourse, for his long ride had given him a sharp appetite. There were +but few passengers in the train when it started, but at almost every +station it received accessions. + +On reaching Portland, Oscar found that he had nearly half an hour to +spare, before taking the Boston train; for it was his intention to "go +through" in one day, which his early start enabled him to do. After +treating himself to a few cakes, which he purchased at a refreshment +stand in the depot, he walked about until it was time to take his seat +in the cars. + +The clock struck three, and the train started. One hundred and eleven +miles seemed to Oscar a long distance to travel, at one stretch, +especially after riding all the forenoon; and, indeed, he did begin to +feel quite tired, long before he reached the end of the journey. To +add to his uneasiness, a particle of cinder from the locomotive flew +into his eye, and lodged there so firmly that all his efforts to remove +it were in vain. In a little while, the eye became quite painful, and +he was obliged to keep it closed. A kind-looking gentleman, who sat +near him, noticed his trouble, and offered to assist him in removing +the mote; but it was so small that he could not find it. He advised +Oscar not to rub the inflamed organ, and told him he thought the +moisture of the eye would soon wash out the intruder, if left to +itself. Oscar tried to follow this advice, but the pain and irritation +did not subside, and he closed his eyes, and resigned himself to +darkness. + +The nine o'clock bells of Boston were ringing, as Oscar left the depot +and turned his steps homeward. He hurried along through the familiar +streets, and had just turned the corner from which his home was in +sight, when somebody jumped suddenly from a dark passage-way, and +seized him by the hand. It was Ralph, who had been on the watch for +his brother half an hour, and, concealed himself just as he saw him +approaching. Each gave the other a cordial greeting, and then they +hastened into the house, where Oscar found the rest of the family +waiting to receive him. The general commotion that followed his +arrival, aroused Tiger from the comfortable nap he was taking on a mat, +and on hearing the well-remembered tones of his master's voice, he +sprang toward Oscar, and nearly knocked him over with his +demonstrations of welcome. + +So Oscar was at home again; and from the welcome he received, he +learned that there is pleasure in getting back from a journey as well +as in setting out upon one. His inflamed eye soon attracted the notice +of his mother, and she examined it to see if she could detect the cause +of the irritation; but the troublesome atom was invisible. She then +said she would try the eye-stone, and, going to the drawer, she got a +small, smooth, and flat stone, and told Ella to go down into the +kitchen and bring up a little vinegar in a saucer. On putting the +stone into the vinegar, it soon began to move about, as though it were +possessed of life. When it had become sufficiently lively, Mrs. +Preston wiped it dry, and put it between the lid and ball of Oscar's +inflamed eye. After it had remained there a few minutes, he allowed it +to drop into his hand, and on a close-examination, he found that it had +brought with it the offending substance that had caused him so much +pain. It was a little black speck, so small that it was barely +perceptible to the unaided eye. It now being quite late, Mrs. Preston +thought that further inquiries and answers concerning Oscar's visit had +better be deferred till morning, and the family soon retired to their +beds. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +DOWNWARD PROGRESS + +The next day was Saturday. Oscar was off most of the day with his +comrades, among whom he was quite a lion for the time. During one of +the brief intervals that he was in the house, his mother said some +thing about his going to school on Monday. + +"O dear, I don't want to go to school again this term," said Oscar. +"What's the use? Why, it 's only four or five weeks before the term +will be through." + +"I know that," replied his mother, "but your father is very anxious +that you should get into the High School, and he thinks you can do it +if you finish up this term." + +"I can't do it--I 've got all behindhand with my studies," said Oscar. + +"O yes, you can if you try," replied his mother. "You might have got +into the High School last year if you had studied a little harder. You +were almost qualified then, and I'm sure you ought to be now. If you +find you are behind your class in your lessons, you must study so much +the harder, and you 'll get up with them by-and-bye." + +"But I don't believe it will do me any good to be confined in the +school-room," continued Oscar. "I don't think I'm so strong as I was +before I was sick." + +"Well," said Mrs. Preston, "when you 're sick you need not go to +school; but I guess there 's no danger of your staying at home for that +reason, at present. You never looked better in your life than you do +now." + +Oscar tried his pleas again in the evening with his father, but with +quite as poor success. He saw that it was fully determined that he +should resume his seat at school, and he reluctantly submitted to this +decision. When Monday morning came, he proceeded to school, but found +that his old desk was in possession of another boy. The head teacher +in Oscar's department soon appeared, and seemed quite glad to see him +once more. He appointed Oscar a new seat, and told him he hoped he +would study so diligently as to make up for lost time. + +The hopes of Oscar's teacher and parents were doomed to disappointment. +It was soon evident that he cared less about his lessons than ever. He +was behind his class, and instead of redoubling his efforts to get up +with them, he became discouraged and indifferent. His recitations were +seldom perfect, and often they were utter failures. His teachers +coaxed, and encouraged, and ridiculed, and frowned, and punished, all +in vain. One day, after Oscar had blundered worse than usual, the +teacher who was hearing the recitation said to him, in a despairing +tone: + +"You remind me, Oscar, of what one of the old Roman emperors said to an +archer who shot his arrows a whole day, and never once hit the mark. +He told him he had a most wonderful talent for missing. So I must say +of you--you 've got the greatest talent for missing of any boy I know." + +Seeing a smile on the faces of Oscar's classmates, he added: + +"But this is too sober a matter to make light of. If you could not get +your lessons, it would be a different matter; but I know, and you know, +that this is not the trouble. You are quick enough to learn and to +understand, when you have a mind to be. If you would only try to get +your lessons as hard as the other boys do, you would n't be at the foot +of the class a great while. If you keep on in this way, you will see +your folly as plainly as I see it now, before you are many years older." + +This admonition had little effect upon Oscar. When school was +dismissed, a few minutes after, he rushed out with as light a step as +any of his comrades, and his gay laugh was heard as soon as he reached +the entry. In the general scramble for caps, one had fallen from its +peg, and instead of replacing it, two or three of the boys were making +a football of it. Oscar joined the sport, and gave the cap a kick that +sent it part of the way down stairs. A moment after, he met Willie +Davenport returning with it. + +"Halloo, Whistler, that is n't your cap, is it?" inquired Oscar. + +"No, but it's _somebody's_," said the good-hearted boy, as he brushed +off the dust, and put the lining back into its place. He was about +hanging it up, when Benny Wright appeared, and claimed it as his +property. + +Had Oscar known that the cap was Benny's, he would not have made a +foot-ball of it. He remembered the kind epistle he received, when +sick, and the amusement it afforded him, when amusements were scarce. +Since his recovery, he had treated Benny with much more consideration +than before, and quite a kindly feeling had sprung up between them. + +Oscar's inattention to his studies was not his only fault at school. +His general behavior was worse than it had ever been before. Vexed +that he was compelled to return to school so near the expiration of the +term, it seemed as though he was determined to make as little +improvement in his studies, and as much trouble for his teachers, as he +could. He not only idled away his own time, but he disturbed other +boys who were disposed to study. He was repeatedly reproved and +punished, but reproof and punishment did no good; on the contrary, they +seemed rather to make him worse. The teachers at length gave him up as +incorrigible, and consoled themselves with the thought that his +connection with the school would cease in two or three weeks, at which +time his class would graduate. They still aimed to keep him in check, +during school hours, but they ceased spending their time and breath in +trying to bring about a reformation in his conduct. + +One day as the scholars were engaged in writing, the master, while +passing along among the boys, and inspecting their writing-books, +noticed that somebody had been spitting what appeared to be tobacco +juice, near Oscar's seat. This was a violation of the rules of the +school, and the teacher concluded not to let it pass unnoticed. Having +no doubt, from several circumstances, that Oscar was the offender, he +said to him: + +"Oscar, what are you chewing tobacco in school for, and spitting the +juice on the floor?" + +"I have n't chewed any tobacco this afternoon," replied Oscar. + +"What is it, then, that you have been spitting upon the floor?" +inquired the teacher. + +"I have n't spit upon the floor," replied Oscar. + +"Who did that?" continued the teacher, pointing to the puddle upon the +floor. + +"I don't know," said Oscar; "it was there when I took my seat." + +It was possible that Oscar told the truth, but the teacher had his +doubts. He might perhaps, have settled the matter at once by putting a +question to one or two of the boys who sat near the supposed offender +but as he always avoided the system of making one boy inform against +another, when he could properly do so, he took another course. He told +Oscar, if he had any tobacco in his mouth, or anywhere about his +person, to give it up to him. Oscar declared that he had none. + +"Let me look into your mouth," said the teacher. + +Oscar had a small piece of the weed in his mouth, which he tucked +behind his upper lip with his tongue, and then opened his mouth. The +teacher of course saw nothing but what belonged there. He _smelt_ +something, however, that left him no longer in doubt that Oscar had +told a falsehood. + +"I can't see your cud, but I can smell it plain enough," said the +master; "and I 'll examine your pockets, if you please." + +Oscar was far from pleased with this proposition, and tried to prevent +its being carried into effect. The master, however, easily overcame +the difficulties he put in the way, and running his hand into the +pocket which he seemed most anxious to defend, brought forth a piece of +tobacco large enough to kill a horse! + +"What is that?" he inquired, holding the contraband article before +Oscar. + +Oscar neither looked at it nor made any reply. + +"And you are the boy who said a moment ago that you had no tobacco +about you," continued the master "I declare I don't know what to do +with you. I have said and done all that I can to make a better boy of +you, and now I shall report this matter to your father, and let him +settle it with you. But I want you to remember one thing. When you +tell me a lie, you break God's law, and not mine; and you can't settle +the matter in full with me, or any other human being." + +The teacher then threw the piece of tobacco out of the open window, and +taking Oscar's writing-book, told him he would set a new copy for him. +He soon returned, with the following line written upon the top of a +clean page: + +"_Lying lips are abomination to the Lord._" + +As Oscar wrote this fearful sentence over and over again, he could not +fully escape the force of its meaning. It reminded him of his feelings +during his recent illness, when at times the terrible thought that his +sickness might possibly be unto death intruded upon his mind. But +thoughts of God, and death, and a future world, were alike unpleasant +to him, and he banished them as speedily as possible. + +During the afternoon, the principal of the school wrote a letter to Mr. +Preston, informing him of Oscar's indolence and bad conduct, and +referring particularly to the incident that had just occurred. By way +of offset to the complaint, he spoke in very high terms of Ralph, who +attended the same school, but was in another department and another +room. He sent the letter by Ralph, but told him not to let Oscar know +anything about it. Ralph had some suspicions of the nature of the +letter, but he did his errand faithfully, going directly from school to +his father's store. + +Mr. Preston was at first very much irritated by the teacher's +complaints of Oscar's misconduct; and could he have taken the culprit +in hand at the time, he would probably have handled him rather roughly. +But several days elapsed before he found it convenient to talk with +Oscar about the matter, and by this time his passion had subsided into +anxiety and sorrow. He showed Oscar the letter, in which he, the +eldest son, was severely censured, and his little brother was so highly +commended. With tears in his eyes, he warned him of the dangers before +him, and entreated him to change his course. + +Oscar had never seen his father exhibit so much emotion before. +Usually, on such occasions, he was stern, if not passionate; more ready +to threaten and punish than to appeal to the heart and conscience. +Now, all this was changed, and sorrow seemed to have taken the place of +anger. Oscar was somewhat affected by this unusual manifestation of +parental anxiety. He was pretty well hardened against scoldings and +threatenings, but he did not know how to meet this new form of rebuke. +He tried to conceal his feelings, however, and preserved a sullen +silence throughout the interview. + +This affair made no abiding impression upon Oscar. In a day or two it +was forgotten, and the slight compunctions he felt had entirely +disappeared. But the schoolmaster's complaint was soon followed by +another that was quite as unpleasant. As Mrs. Preston was sitting at +her sewing, one day, the door suddenly opened, and in came Bridget, the +servant girl, with a face as red as rage and a hot fire could make it. + +"I'll be goin' off this night, ma'am--I'll pack me chist, and not stop +here any longer at all," said Bridget, in a tone that betokened her +anger. + +"Going off--what do you mean? You don't say you 're going to leave us +so suddenly, Biddy?" inquired Mrs. Preston, with surprise. + +"Yes, that I be," replied Bridget, very decidedly; "I 'll not be after +staying in the same house with that big, ugly b'y, another day." + +"Who, Oscar? What has he done now?" inquired Mrs. Preston. + +"He's did nothing but bother the life out o' me ivery day since he coom +back, that's jist all he 's did," replied Biddy. "Jist now, ma'am, he +slopped over a hull basin o' dirty whater right on to the clane floor, +and thin laffed at me, and sassed me, and called me, all sorts o' bad +names--the little sass-box! It's not the like o' Bridget Mullikin that +'ll put up with his dirty impidence another day. I 'd like to live +with ye, ma'am, and Mister Pristen, good, nice man that he is but I +can't stop to be trated like a dog by that sassy b'y." + +"I 'll go and see what he has been about," said Mrs. Preston, laying +down her work. + +When they reached the kitchen, Oscar was not to be found. There was +the puddle of dirty water upon the floor, however, and so far Bridget's +story was corroborated. As she proceeded to wipe it up, she continued +to speak in not very complimentary terms of the "ugly b'y," as she +delighted to call Oscar. It was in vain that Mrs. Preston attempted to +soothe her ruffled spirits. She refused to be comforted, and insisted +upon taking her departure from the house that night. + +Oscar did not make his appearance again until late in the afternoon. +When his mother called him to account for his treatment of Bridget, he +denied the greater part of her story. He said that the basin of water +was standing upon the floor, and that he accidentally hit it with his +foot, and upset it. He denied that he called her bad names or was +impudent, but he admitted that he laughed, to see her so angry. He +also complained that she was as "cross as Bedlam" to him, and "jawed" +him whenever he entered the kitchen. + +Mrs. Preston, puzzled by these contradictory stories, brought the two +contending parties face to face, in hope of either eliciting the truth +or effecting a treaty of peace between them. She failed in both +objects, however. Bridget not only adhered to her first statement, but +boldly accused Oscar of sundry other misdeeds that had come up in +recollection since the first outbreak; while Oscar, on the other hand, +stoutly denied most of her charges, and insisted that she was +ill-natured, and irritated him in every possible way. The contest +finally waxed so warm between them that Mrs. Preston was obliged to +interpose, and to withdraw with Oscar. + +Mrs. Preston never ascertained the real facts in the case. Candor +compels me to say that Bridget's complaints were essentially true. +Knowing the poor Irish girl's weak side (her quick temper), Oscar had +for some time taxed his ingenuity to torment her, for the sake of +hearing her "sputter," as he termed it. He was not only impudent, and +applied offensive names to her, but sometimes he purposely put her to +extra labor and trouble by misplacing articles, making dirt about the +house, &c. These things were a sad annoyance to Bridget, and she soon +came to regard Oscar as "the plague of her life," and treated him +accordingly. He did very wrong to annoy her in this way; and she was +foolish to take so much notice of his hectoring. The ill-will thus +established between them grew day by day, until it resulted in the open +rupture just described. But Mrs. Preston did not give full credit to +Bridget's story. She believed the difficulty was owing quite as much +to Biddy's irritable temper and ignorance as to Oscar's impudence, and +consequently the latter escaped with a slight reprimand. She also +prevailed upon Bridget to remain with them the week out, thinking she +would by that time get over her anger. But, to the surprise of all, +when Saturday night came, Bridget took her departure. She had got +another "place," where she would be out of the reach of the provoking +Oscar. + +The week for the annual examination of the public schools soon arrived. +Oscar begged hard, but in vain, for permission to absent himself, on +the eventful day that the grave committee and other distinguished +visitors were to sit in judgment upon the condition of the school to +which he belonged. But though he was present, he did not appear to +much advantage among the "bright particular stars" of the day; and as +one and another of the flower of his class were called out, to receive +the "Franklin medals," his name was not heard, and no silken ribbon, +with silver medal attached, was hung around his neck. + +The same day, in obedience to the orders of his father, but very much +against his own inclination, Oscar applied to the head master for the +certificate required of boys who present themselves for admission to +the High School. The teacher seemed a little puzzled what reply to +make. At length he said: + +"Do you know what kind of a certificate is required?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Oscar, who had read the advertisement in the paper +that morning. + +"The certificate must say that you are a boy of good character, and +that your teacher believes you are qualified for admission to the High +School," continued the master. "Now I want to ask you if you think I +can honestly say that of you?" + +Oscar hung his head in shame, but made no reply. It had turned out +just as he feared it would. + +"It is very hard to refuse such a request," continued the teacher; +"but, really, if I should give you the certificate, I am afraid it +would do you no good, while it might do me some harm, for I don't like +to have my scholars rejected. I cannot honestly say that I think you +are qualified for the High School; and besides your conduct has been +such of late, that I do not see how I could give you a very high +recommendation. I would advise you to give up the idea of applying for +admission. I am very sorry it is so, but that will not help the +matter." + +What could Oscar say to this? He said nothing, but his looks betrayed +the deep mortification he felt, and moved his teacher to pity, while he +denied his request. Nor was this the end of Oscar's troubles. He had +got to face his father, and to confess to him that he was found +unworthy even to be a candidate for the school for which he had so long +been preparing. In doing this, he smoothed over the matter as well as +he could; but at best it was a bitter thing to him, and thus he began +to experience some of the sad but natural effects of his own misconduct. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +NED MIXER. + +The long summer vacation had now commenced. Oscar wished to spend it +at Brookdale, but his parents did not seem much inclined to yield to +his wishes. They had not yet fully determined what to do with him; +whether to send him to a private school, when the vacations were over, +or to put him to work in some shop or store. Meanwhile, Oscar was +idling away his time about the streets, and devoting all his energies +to the pursuit of amusement. His favorite place of resort continued to +be the hotel where Alfred Walton lived. Here he found congenial +spirits in Alfred, and Andy the speller, and the several drivers and +hostlers, with whom he was on intimate terms. Here, too, he often met +with strangers who took his fancy. + +At this time, a boy named Edward Mixer was boarding at the hotel. He +had lately come to Boston from another city, and Oscar and Alfred were +soon captivated by his free and easy manners, and his sociable +qualities. He was between fifteen and sixteen years old, and +represented that he was travelling about, to see the world. He said he +had plenty of money, and should have a great deal more, when he became +of age. He was fashionably dressed, and Oscar and Alfred felt proud of +his acquaintance, and were soon on terms of intimacy with him. + +It was not long before Oscar discovered that Edward was a very bad boy. +His conversation was low and profane, and he seemed to take special +delight in relating sundry "scrapes," in which he himself figured in a +character that was something worse than mischievous, and bordered on +the criminal. He "talked large," too, amazingly large; and Oscar and +Alfred were at length forced to the reluctant conclusion that he was an +unmitigated liar. But these were small faults, in their view. They +considered Ned a capital fellow, and a right down good companion, in +spite of these little drawbacks, and they sought his company as much as +ever. + +Ned spent a good deal of his time around the several railroad depots. +He seemed to have quite a mania for such places. Oscar and Alfred +often accompanied him to these favorite old haunts of theirs. One +morning, as the three were loitering around a depot, having nothing in +particular to amuse themselves with, an excursion on foot into a +neighboring town was proposed, and all readily agreed to the +suggestion. They immediately set out, accompanied by Oscar's dog, +Tiger. They walked along the railroad track, and crossed the river by +the railroad bridge, thus saving their tolls, besides many extra steps. +They passed several small sign-boards, on which was painted the +warning, "_No Person allowed to cross this Bridge_;" but this did not +check their progress, and as no one interfered with them, they were +soon safely over the river. They still followed the track for some +distance, until they had reached the open country, and then they turned +off into the green fields. + +There were many fine orchards and gardens on every side, but ripe +fruits and berries were very scarce. Strawberries and cherries had +pretty much disappeared, and it was not yet time for plums, peaches, +and early apples and pears. Ned appeared to regret this very much. + +"Just see there!" he exclaimed, as they approached a large garden, +remote from any house, whose trees were loaded with green fruit. "What +fine picking we should have, if it were only a few weeks later! I mean +to come out here again next month, you see if I don't. We must mark +this place; let me see; there's an old rough board fence--I shall +remember that, I guess. Didn't you ever rob an orchard, Alf? I've +robbed more than you could shake a stick at. I 'm a first-rate hand at +it, I can tell you--never got caught in my life; but I've come pretty +near it, though, a good many times. Hold on--I 'm going to get over +the fence, and see what they 've got. Those plums over there look as +if they were pretty near ripe. Come, Alf and Oscar, won't you get +over?" + +"You two may," said Oscar, "but I 'll stay here with Tiger. He might +bark if we all got over, where he could n't see us." + +Edward and Alfred were soon upon the other side of the fence. While +they were exploring the garden, Oscar's attention was attracted to a +dense thicket, from which two or three birds suddenly flew on his +approach. He thought there might be a nest there, and concluded to see +if he could find it. Carefully brushing aside the leaves and twigs, he +began to hunt for the suspected nest, while Tiger stood looking on. +Absorbed in this occupation, he lost sight of his comrades. + +[Illustration: Hunting for Birds' Nests.] + +After searching for several minutes, Oscar found a small nest, within +his reach, but it was empty. He turned to inform the other boys of his +success, but they were nowhere to be seen. He walked along by the +fence, but could see nothing of them. He was afraid to call to them, +lest the owner of the garden might hear, and take the alarm. He +listened, but could not hear them. He walked along still further, and +kept his eyes wide open, but they were not to be seen. He concluded +they were playing a trick upon him, and had hid themselves. If that +was the game he thought, he would not worry himself about it. He +accordingly turned about, and was going to sit down and wait for them +to make their appearance, when he happened to espy them in a distant +field, running at the top of their speed, with a man in full chase +after them. It was soon evident that the boys were gaining on their +pursuer; but they were approaching a brook, over which there was no +bridge, and the man probably supposed that would bring them to a stand. +It did not, however, for they ran right through the shallow water, +without stopping to think about it. The man did not think it prudent +to follow their example, and he accordingly gave up the chase, and went +back with dry feet. + +After Edward and Alfred had got rid of their pursuer, they began to +look around for Oscar. The latter, putting his fingers into his mouth, +gave a loud and shrill whistle, which they immediately recognized, and +answered in a similar way. Oscar started towards them, and taking a +wide sweep through the fields, they all came out together upon the +highway. They did not think it safe to remain long in the +neighborhood, and so they hurried on towards Boston. It appeared, from +Edward's story, that he and Alfred knocked a few hard peaches from a +tree, while in the garden, but they proved unfit to eat. They also +found some ripe currants, and were leisurely helping themselves, when +they heard somebody ask them what they were about. They turned, and +saw a man approaching; whereupon, without stopping to answer his +question, they leaped over the fence, and took to their heels, the man +following closely upon them. The conclusion of the race Oscar had +witnessed. + +As they were walking home, and talking about various matters, Edward +suddenly gave the conversation a new turn, by inquiring: + +"Boys, do you want to go into a grand speculation with me?" + +"Yes, what is it?" was the response of both the others. + +"We should make something handsome out of it, but we should have to run +some risk," continued Edward. "I've got the scheme all laid out, so +that I know just how to go to work. But it's no use talking about it. +I don't believe either of you have got pluck enough to go into it." + +"I 've got pluck--the real, genuine article; try me, and see if I have +n't," said Alfred. + +"So have I," said Oscar; "I should like to have you show me a boy +that's got more pluck than I have, when I get stirred up." + +"Pooh, you don't know what pluck is, neither of you," replied Edward. +"What would you do if a policeman should nab you?" + +"I should run, just as _you_ did, when the man caught you stealing +fruit," said Oscar, with a laugh. "That's a specimen of _your_ pluck, +aint it?" + +"But what is the speculation you were telling about?" inquired Alfred. + +"I guess I shan't tell you about it now," replied Edward. "I 'm afraid +you would n't keep it to yourselves." + +"Yes we will. _I_ will at any rate," said Alfred. + +"So will I," added Oscar. + +"If I let you into the secret, and you should blab it out, I would n't +mind killing both of you," said Edward, with forced gravity, which he +could not long maintain, it gradually relaxing into a smile. "I mean +what I say," he added, "you needn't laugh at it." + +Both the others renewed their promise to keep the matter a secret; but +Edward, after talking about his scheme a quarter of an hour longer, and +exciting the curiosity of the others to the highest point, finally +informed them that he could not let them into the secret then, but that +he would tell them all about it in a few days, if he was sure that they +would keep it to themselves. + +Oscar saw Edward almost every day, and often inquired about his +speculation, but got no definite answer. He and Alfred both felt very +curious to know what it was; but though expectation was on tiptoe, it +was not gratified. Edward assured them, however, that things were +nearly ready, and that in a few days he would let them into the +mysterious scheme. + +Oscar's uncle, from Brookdale, was now in the city, and was stopping +for a few days at Mr. Preston's. He no sooner arrived, than Oscar +applied to his parents for permission to return with him to Maine; but +they did not give much encouragement to his proposal, although his +uncle said he should like to have him make his family another visit. +Oscar, however, daily renewed his request, for he believed that he +should yet accomplish his object by teasing. + +The day before Oscar's uncle was to return to his home, a gentleman +called into Mr. Preston's store, and told him he wished to see him +alone. Having with drawn to a private room, the stranger introduced +himself as an officer of the police. + +"You have a son fourteen or fifteen years old?" inquired the officer. + +"Yes, I have," replied Mr. Preston. + +"Are you aware that he is getting into bad company?" continued the +officer. + +"No, sir," said Mr. Preston. + +"Well," resumed the other, "I 've called to acquaint you of a few facts +that have come to my knowledge, and you can act in the matter as you +think best. There is a young fellow stopping at the ---- Hotel, who +came to this city a few weeks ago, and who calls himself Edward Mixer. +He is a little larger than your son, and is well dressed, and looks +like a respectable boy; but for a week or two past we have suspected +that he was a rogue. He hangs around the railroad depots, and as +several persons have had their pockets picked, when getting out of the +cars, since he made his appearance, we began to watch him. We have got +no evidence against him yet; but yesterday I pointed him out to a New +York policeman, who happened to be here, and he says he knows him well. +It seems he is a regular pickpocket by profession, and has served a +term at Blackwell's Island. [1] He was liberated last month, and came +on here to follow the business where he isn't known. But we keep a +sharp eye on him, and as we have noticed that your son is quite +intimate with him, I thought it my duty to inform you of it. I don't +suppose your boy knows the real character of this fellow, or has +anything to do with his roguery; but it isn't safe for him to be in +such company, and I thought you ought to know what is going on." + +Mr. Preston thanked the officer very cordially for the information, and +promised to see that Oscar was immediately put out of the way of danger +from this source. When he went home at noon, he had a long private +interview with his son, and informed him of the disclosures the officer +had made. Oscar was not a little astonished to learn that the genteel +and sociable Ned Mixer, whose company he prized so highly, was a thief +by trade, and was fresh from a prison. He assured his father that he +knew nothing of all this. This was true; but after all Oscar knew too +much of the character of Ned to believe him to be a good boy, or a safe +companion. He had heard him swear and lie. He had also heard him +sneer at virtue, and boast of deeds that no well-ordered conscience +would approve. And yet he courted his company, and considered him a +"capital fellow"! O, foolish boy! + +But Oscar's plea of ignorance did not fully excuse him, even in the eye +of his father, who did not know how little force that plea really had. + +"I don't suppose you knew his character," said Mr. Preston; "but are +there not good boys enough in the neighborhood for you to associate +with--boys that have always lived here and are well known--without your +cultivating the acquaintance of every straggler and vagabond that comes +along? I wish you would not make yourself so intimate with Tom, Dick, +and Harry, before you know anything about them. I 've cautioned you +against this a good many times, and now I hope that you 'll see there +is some cause for it. If this intimacy had gone on a few weeks longer, +it might have ruined you and disgraced your mother and me." + +After consultation with his wife and brother, Mr. Preston concluded to +let Oscar go down to Brookdale; and remain until they could make some +permanent arrangements for him elsewhere. He did not think it safe for +him to remain longer exposed to the temptations of the city. He +charged Oscar not to speak again to Ned, and not to inform any one of +the facts he had learned about him, lest it might thwart the efforts of +the police to detect his rogueries. On second thought, he concluded to +take Oscar to the store with him that afternoon, to prevent the +possibility of an interview between him and Ned. Oscar thus remained +under the eye of his father through the day. In the evening he packed +his valise for the journey, and the next morning he started for +Brookdale with his uncle. + +A day or two after Oscar's departure, Ned was arrested in the act of +picking a lady's pocket at a railroad depot. Being unable to obtain +bail, he was committed for trial. When his case came up in court, he +was brought in guilty; and it appearing, from the testimony of the +officers, that, though young, he was quite old in crime, he was +sentenced to one year in the House of Correction. + +Oscar never ascertained the nature of Ned's "grand speculation," and +probably it was well for him that he did not. Had he been let into the +secret, and had the scheme been carried into effect at the time it was +first talked of, I might have been obliged to add another and a still +sadder chapter to the history of "THE BOY WHO HAD HIS OWN WAY." + + +[1] The New York Penitentiary. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OSCAR*** + + +******* This file should be named 18153.txt or 18153.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/1/5/18153 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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